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: saw · pop · mug · plane · hide · can · court · foot

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. court — of a king
  3. mug — to rob
  4. court — of law
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. mug — a cup
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. plane — a tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. mug — a face
  13. foot — a measure
  14. pop — to visit
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pop — music
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. court — for sport
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. pop — soda
  24. can — a tin

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