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: rush · rule · tube · plane · rest · can · pitcher · roll

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. tube — the underground
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. can — to be able to
  12. roll — a list
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. tube — a container
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. rule — government
  19. can — a tin
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rule — a law
  24. rush — hurry

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