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 120 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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pop — music
  4. drill — a practice
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. track — a path
  7. scale — size or range
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. squash — to crush
  11. rush — hurry
  12. track — to keep track
  13. foot — a measure
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. pop — soda
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. squash — the sport
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. scale — in music
  22. drill — the tool
  23. track — a song
  24. pop — to visit

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