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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. wake — a trail
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. can — to be able to
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. can — a tin
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. rock — a stone
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. track — to keep track
  17. can — a tin
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. date — the fruit
  20. rock — music
  21. stand — to bear
  22. track — a path
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. track — a song

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