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: firm · chip · season · stem · ball · kick · fan · plane

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. firm — decided
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. season — in sport
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. plane — a tool
  9. firm — a company
  10. kick — in football
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. firm — steady
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ball — a great time
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stem — to come from
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — for betting

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