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 · snap · chest · can · stand · hand · trunk · rush

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. chest — a box
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. stand — to bear
  5. chest — of your body
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. snap — to click
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. can — a tin
  12. hand — help
  13. plane — a tool
  14. rush — hurry
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. hand — in cards
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. can — a tin
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. chest — of your body
  24. can — to be able to

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