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: bay · rush · row · nail · plane · bound · cabinet · tube

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rush — hurry
  4. tube — the underground
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. row — to paddle
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. row — a line
  14. bound — certain
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. tube — a container
  23. bound — obliged
  24. cabinet — ministers

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