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 · jam · dip · board · nail · mine · ball · rock

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — a tool
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rock — music
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. dip — to sink
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a great time
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. rock — a stone
  17. mine — for digging
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. ball — a dance
  20. board — to get on
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. board — a committee
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. mine — an explosive

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