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: chip · leaves · can · mine · plane · fine · cue · field

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. chip — to eat
  4. plane — a tool
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cue — a signal
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. fine — high quality
  12. field — for sport
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mine — for digging
  16. field — farmland
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. fine — all right
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — for betting
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. can — a tin
  23. field — a subject
  24. cue — a hint

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