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 · roll · board · hide · rush · bass · club · bay

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. board — a committee
  5. club — a group
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rush — hurry
  9. bass — low music
  10. board — to get on
  11. club — for golf
  12. club — for dancing
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. roll — a list
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. hide — animal skin

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