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: pitcher · clip · plane · firm · sharp · chip · tube · stand

  1. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. firm — a company
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. sharp — clever
  7. clip — a video
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. plane — a tool
  17. firm — decided
  18. stand — to bear
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. tube — a container
  21. chip — for betting
  22. chip — to eat
  23. firm — steady
  24. clip — for paper

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