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: date · face · can · pit · firm · bear · ball · plane

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. can — a tin
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. pit — a hole
  8. face — part of the head
  9. pit — in a race
  10. can — a tin
  11. bear — the animal
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. bear — the animal
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. face — to point toward
  16. can — to be able to
  17. face — to confront
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. firm — a company
  20. ball — a dance
  21. ball — a great time
  22. firm — decided
  23. plane — a tool
  24. date — the fruit

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