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 120 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: plane · land · net · bore · perch · can · last · cabinet

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bore — to drill
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. net — for catching
  6. perch — the fish
  7. last — to go on
  8. bore — to tire
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. net — in sport
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. can — to be able to
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. last — finally
  16. land — a country
  17. land — ground
  18. can — a tin
  19. last — final
  20. plane — a tool
  21. net — after costs
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. land — to come down

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