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: racket · stand · game · bank · plane · shower · prune · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. plane — a tool
  3. game — a match
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. shower — to wash
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bank — for money
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bank — for money
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. prune — to trim
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bank — of a river
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. shower — rain
  21. game — wild animals
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. prune — to trim
  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