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: bulb · track · sharp · current · fall · vault · tube · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. tube — a container
  3. sharp — clever
  4. plane — a tool
  5. fall — to drop
  6. bulb — for light
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. current — happening now
  10. track — a path
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. current — electric
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fall — the season
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. track — to keep track
  20. fall — to drop
  21. current — of water
  22. vault — a safe
  23. track — a song
  24. bulb — for light

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