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: nail · mark · bulb · bay · rest · plane · wake · game

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. mark — a trace
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. rest — a break
  11. game — a match
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. bulb — for light
  15. game — wild animals
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. rest — what's left
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. wake — a trail
  20. plane — a tool
  21. mark — a grade
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. nail — on a finger

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