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 · nail · deal · face · object · bowl · plane · hide

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. object — to protest
  6. face — part of the head
  7. object — a thing
  8. charge — a price
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. charge — electricity
  13. plane — a tool
  14. face — to confront
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. face — to point toward
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. deal — to handle
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. charge — in control
  24. nail — on a finger

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