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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bear — the animal
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. ball — a dance
  5. staff — employees
  6. bear — the animal
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bulb — for light
  9. track — a path
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bank — for money
  12. staff — employees
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. face — to confront
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bank — for money
  18. saw — the tool
  19. ball — a great time
  20. face — to point toward
  21. staff — a stick
  22. face — part of the head
  23. bank — of a river
  24. saw — the tool

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