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: chip · plane · cap · leaves · spring · jam · date · kick

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. spring — a coil
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. kick — in football
  9. plane — a tool
  10. spring — the season
  11. chip — for betting
  12. cap — of ice
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. cap — a lid
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. kick — with a leg
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. spring — of water
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. date — the fruit
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. chip — to eat
  24. cap — a hat

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