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: club · ruler · game · rock · plane · hand · racket · bass

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. game — a match
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. rock — music
  8. club — a group
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bass — low music
  11. hand — in cards
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bass — the fish
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. club — for golf
  21. hand — help
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. club — for dancing
  24. plane — an aircraft

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