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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. squash — to crush
  3. track — a path
  4. rock — a stone
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. rest — a break
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rest — what's left
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. rock — music
  13. track — a song
  14. track — to keep track
  15. squash — the sport
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. rest — what's left
  22. wake — a trail
  23. ball — a great time
  24. squash — the vegetable

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