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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. track — to keep track
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. roll — a list
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. track — a song
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. track — a path
  10. foot — a measure
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. wax — to grow
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. bulb — for light
  21. saw — the tool
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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