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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. track — to keep track
  3. track — a song
  4. spring — of water
  5. bound — certain
  6. drill — a practice
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the fish
  9. drill — army training
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. spring — the season
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. chip — to eat
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. wax — to grow
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bound — obliged
  19. drill — the tool
  20. spring — a coil
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. track — a path
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. pass — a permit

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