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: hide · trunk · plane · bass · band · club · mine · mark

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. mine — for digging
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. band — a music group
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. club — a group
  11. mark — a grade
  12. club — for golf
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bass — low music
  15. club — for dancing
  16. bass — the fish
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. plane — a tool
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. band — a ring
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. trunk — of a car

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