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: saw · root · straw · mate · suit · plane · bear · file

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. suit — to fit
  7. root — of a word
  8. suit — clothes
  9. root — the cause
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mate — a partner
  13. saw — the tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. root — of a plant
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. mate — to breed
  18. file — a tool
  19. file — a document
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mate — a friend

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