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 keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bass — the fish
  4. track — a song
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bass — low music
  7. track — a path
  8. chip — for betting
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. ball — a great time
  11. chip — to eat
  12. board — to get on
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mate — to breed
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. mate — a partner
  20. bulb — for light
  21. board — a committee
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. ball — a dance

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