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: bass · wake · board · lean · suit · net · plane · lash

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. net — in sport
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. plane — a tool
  9. net — after costs
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. wake — a trail
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bass — low music
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. board — to get on
  19. board — a committee
  20. lean — thin
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. net — for catching
  24. lean — to bend

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