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: charge · racket · bear · ball · vault · nail · plane · sharp

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. ball — a dance
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bear — the animal
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. vault — a safe
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. charge — a price
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — clever
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. bear — the animal
  18. plane — a tool
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. ball — a great time

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