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: cell · plane · face · bank · nail · calf · jam · toast

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bank — of a river
  3. cell — a phone
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. plane — a tool
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. cell — in biology
  12. bank — for money
  13. toast — bread
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. face — to point toward
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bank — for money
  20. face — to confront
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. face — part of the head
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. nail — for a hammer

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