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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bass — the fish
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. mine — for digging
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. track — a path
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. ground — a position
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. track — to keep track
  18. staff — a stick
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bass — low music
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. track — a song
  24. ground — crushed

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