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: bay · squash · pop · spring · plane · pass · bore · deal

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — to tire
  4. squash — the sport
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. deal — to handle
  9. spring — the season
  10. squash — to crush
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. spring — of water
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. pop — to visit
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. spring — a coil
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pop — music
  22. plane — a tool
  23. pop — soda
  24. deal — a big deal

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