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: plane · ball · wave · mouse · prune · lean · toast · bay

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. lean — to bend
  6. ball — a dance
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. toast — bread
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. lean — thin
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. plane — a tool
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. prune — to trim
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. prune — to trim
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bay — a horse colour

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