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: file · stock · spell · key · plane · stand · bowl · race

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. race — humankind
  3. key — for a lock
  4. file — a line of people
  5. spell — letters
  6. plane — a tool
  7. file — a document
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. stock — shares
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stock — goods
  12. race — a contest
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. key — the most important part
  15. file — a tool
  16. key — in music
  17. spell — magic
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. spell — a short time
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. race — the arms race

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