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: scale · coach · plane · fan · degree · stick · fine · leaves

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. fine — all right
  10. plane — a tool
  11. degree — temperature
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. degree — from a university
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. scale — in music
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. fine — high quality
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. scale — size or range
  24. degree — an amount

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