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: plane · kick · bowl · rest · bulb · bound · craft · bass

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bound — tied together
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rest — what's left
  12. craft — a skill
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bass — the fish
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. bound — obliged
  18. rest — a break
  19. bass — low music
  20. rest — what's left
  21. plane — a tool
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. craft — boats
  24. kick — in football

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