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: snap · stock · season · ruler · plane · lash · pitch · mate

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. snap — to click
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. plane — a tool
  14. stock — goods
  15. pitch — completely
  16. stock — shares
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a partner
  19. season — in sport
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. season — of the year
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. ruler — for measuring

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