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: mouse · content · lash · spell · bowl · leaves · plane · wave

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. spell — a short time
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. spell — letters
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. content — the amount
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. content — happy

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