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: plane · cue · leaves · key · spell · pass · prune · last

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. spell — a short time
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. cue — for pool
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. spell — letters
  8. last — final
  9. key — for a lock
  10. cue — a signal
  11. key — in music
  12. last — finally
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. cue — a hint
  15. plane — a tool
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pass — a permit
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. last — to go on
  21. prune — to trim
  22. key — the most important part
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. leaves — of a tree

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