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 116 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 · bulb · sharp · rush · bank · bear · leaves · ball

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. plane — a tool
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bank — for money
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bear — the animal
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. bank — for money
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bear — the animal
  24. sharp — clever

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