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: board · fine · bowl · lean · fan · fork · drill · toast

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. fork — in a road
  3. drill — the tool
  4. board — a committee
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. board — to get on
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. drill — a practice
  18. lean — thin
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. toast — bread
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. drill — army training
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. lean — to rest against

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