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 120 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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. kid — child
  3. track — a path
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. pop — soda
  7. bulb — for light
  8. can — a tin
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. pop — to visit
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. can — to be able to
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pop — music
  20. track — a song
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — to keep track
  23. kid — to tease
  24. bowl — a football final

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