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: pass · pitcher · rash · toast · mouse · cabinet · plane · spell

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. spell — magic
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. spell — letters
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. rash — a series
  10. pass — a permit
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. spell — a short time
  14. toast — bread
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. plane — a tool

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