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: mug · bass · plane · spell · saw · vault · track · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bass — the fish
  4. track — a song
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. plane — a tool
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — magic
  12. spell — a short time
  13. saw — the tool
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. track — a path
  17. mug — to rob
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. bass — low music
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. mug — a cup
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mug — a face

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