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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. key — for a lock
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. key — in music
  5. track — a song
  6. track — to keep track
  7. cap — of ice
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mark — a trace
  11. key — the most important part
  12. can — a tin
  13. wake — a trail
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mark — a grade
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. cap — a lid
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. track — a path
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cap — a hat
  23. can — a tin
  24. hide — animal skin

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