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 120 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: craft · key · season · trunk · object · fan · bark · plane

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. season — in sport
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. craft — a skill
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. key — in music
  11. plane — a tool
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. season — of the year
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. key — the most important part
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. object — to protest
  19. craft — boats
  20. key — for a lock
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — a thing

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