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: track · kick · arm · charge · board · plane · ball · hide

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. board — to get on
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. charge — in control
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. ball — a great time
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. charge — electricity
  14. board — a committee
  15. ball — a dance
  16. track — a song
  17. charge — a price
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. track — to keep track
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. track — a path
  23. kick — in football
  24. plane — a tool

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