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 120 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: hand · ruler · race · mate · coach · plane · season · net

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. mate — a friend
  3. hand — in cards
  4. net — in sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. hand — help
  9. season — of the year
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. race — humankind
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. mate — a partner
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. net — for catching
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. net — after costs
  20. race — a contest
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mate — to breed
  23. season — in sport
  24. race — the arms race

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