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: bass · lie · spell · plane · dip · jam · deal · last

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. bass — low music
  4. spell — letters
  5. plane — a tool
  6. spell — a short time
  7. dip — to sink
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. last — finally
  11. last — to go on
  12. spell — magic
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. lie — to recline
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. last — final
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. bass — the fish

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