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: saw · tube · plane · staff · stand · date · jam · last

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. last — final
  3. last — finally
  4. staff — employees
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. date — the fruit
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. last — to go on
  13. stand — to bear
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. tube — a container
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. staff — a stick
  18. plane — a tool
  19. tube — the underground
  20. staff — employees
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — the 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