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: ruler · suit · file · saw · plane · wave · cap · toast

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. toast — bread
  3. suit — to fit
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. cap — a lid
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. cap — of ice
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a line of people
  11. suit — in cards
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. file — a tool
  17. plane — a tool
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cap — a hat
  20. file — a document
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. saw — the tool
  24. suit — clothes

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