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: stand · deal · lie · lean · pitcher · tube · bass · plane

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. tube — a container
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. stand — to bear
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — to recline
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. plane — a tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bass — low music
  12. bass — the fish
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lean — to bend
  16. lean — thin
  17. tube — the underground
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stand — for spectators

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