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: drill · plane · lash · fan · temple · face · bound · swing

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. swing — to play on
  4. drill — army training
  5. face — to point toward
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. swing — in golf
  8. drill — a practice
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bound — obliged
  11. plane — a tool
  12. face — to confront
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bound — certain
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. face — part of the head
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. swing — music
  24. bound — tied together

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