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: object · track · plane · key · leaves · mark · lean · band

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. band — a music group
  3. mark — a grade
  4. lean — thin
  5. track — to keep track
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. object — an aim
  8. mark — a trace
  9. object — to protest
  10. band — a ring
  11. plane — a tool
  12. track — a path
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. lean — to bend
  15. key — in music
  16. key — the most important part
  17. track — a song
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. key — for a lock
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. object — a thing
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. leaves — lets stay

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