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 · band · lie · clip · bulb · nail · jam · present

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. plane — a tool
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. present — the time now
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. band — a music group
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. clip — to cut
  14. band — a ring
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. present — there
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bulb — for light
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. clip — for paper
  22. present — a gift
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. plane — in geometry

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