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: craft · shower · net · bore · leaves · plane · coach · safe

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. craft — a skill
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. net — in sport
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. plane — a tool
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. shower — to wash
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bore — to drill
  17. net — for catching
  18. net — after costs
  19. craft — boats
  20. shower — rain
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. safe — out of danger

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