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. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. track — a song
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. staff — employees
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. bass — low music
  8. can — a tin
  9. cap — a hat
  10. roll — a list
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. cap — a lid
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — a permit
  19. staff — employees
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. staff — a stick
  22. roll — a cake
  23. can — a tin
  24. bass — the fish

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