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: plane · prune · row · bank · jam · wound · charge · face

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. bank — for money
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. prune — to trim
  6. charge — electricity
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bank — of a river
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. bank — for money
  13. face — to point toward
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. face — to confront
  16. charge — in control
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — an injury
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. prune — to trim
  21. row — a line
  22. row — to paddle
  23. charge — a price
  24. face — part of the head

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