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: pitcher · season · spell · arm · plane · pass · cell · board

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. pass — a permit
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. board — to get on
  8. cell — a phone
  9. season — in sport
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. plane — a tool
  12. spell — magic
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. cell — in biology
  17. spell — letters
  18. board — a committee
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. season — of the year
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. season — to add flavour

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