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 116 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: ground · wave · sharp · pop · bound · plane · lash · calf

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. pop — music
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. ground — the earth
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. bound — tied together
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bound — obliged
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. pop — to visit
  14. sharp — clever
  15. pop — soda
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. ground — crushed
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bound — certain
  22. ground — a position
  23. plane — a tool
  24. wave — with your hand

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