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 · tube · present · safe · march · rest · can · pitcher

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. rest — what's left
  5. tube — a container
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. present — there
  8. march — the month
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — a break
  12. can — a tin
  13. march — music
  14. present — a gift
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. plane — a tool
  17. can — to be able to
  18. march — the month
  19. can — a tin
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. tube — the underground
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. plane — in geometry

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