ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: lie · band · firm · straw · rush · pit · branch · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. firm — decided
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. pit — a hole
  5. band — a music group
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. firm — steady
  10. rush — hurry
  11. plane — a tool
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. band — a ring
  14. lie — to recline
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. firm — a company
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. pit — in a race
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com