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: fine · mate · ball · plane · fan · march · branch · date

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. date — the fruit
  3. march — the month
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. mate — to breed
  6. ball — a great time
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. march — the month
  11. branch — a division
  12. mate — a friend
  13. march — music
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mate — a partner
  21. fine — all right
  22. plane — a tool
  23. ball — a dance
  24. date — on the calendar

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