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: land · fan · bass · mark · plane · bound · hide · date

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. date — the fruit
  3. land — a country
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. mark — a grade
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bass — low music
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. land — ground
  12. plane — a tool
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bass — the fish
  18. bound — certain
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bound — obliged
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. date — on the calendar

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