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: last · fine · rash · trunk · bowl · plane · temple · fall

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. rash — hasty
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. plane — a tool
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. last — final
  9. rash — a series
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. last — finally
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. fall — to drop
  20. last — to go on
  21. fall — to drop
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. fine — high quality

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