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 120 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: bore · tube · clip · plane · mug · arm · bass · content

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. tube — the underground
  3. bass — the fish
  4. bass — low music
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. clip — to cut
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. tube — a container
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. bore — to tire
  13. mug — a cup
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. mug — to rob
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. content — the amount
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. clip — a video
  21. mug — a face
  22. clip — for paper
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. content — happy

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