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 116 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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. track — a path
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. squash — the sport
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. bark — to shout
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bass — the fish
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. game — wild animals
  13. track — to keep track
  14. plane — a tool
  15. bass — low music
  16. squash — to crush
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bound — obliged
  20. track — a song
  21. bound — certain
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. game — a match
  24. squash — the vegetable

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