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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. present — a gift
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. track — a path
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. firm — decided
  7. track — to keep track
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. firm — a company
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stock — goods
  17. stock — shares
  18. firm — steady
  19. track — a song
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. present — there
  22. fine — all right
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. fine — high quality

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