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: nail · hide · bowl · jam · foot · plane · ball · tear

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. tear — from crying
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. tear — to rip
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. plane — a tool
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. ball — a dance
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. tear — from crying
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. foot — a measure
  24. hide — to keep secret

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