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: suit · calf · fan · plane · ball · row · mouse · game

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. plane — a tool
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. ball — a dance
  7. suit — in cards
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. row — to paddle
  10. game — wild animals
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. suit — to fit
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ball — a great time
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. row — a line
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. plane — in geometry

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