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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bass — low music
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. track — a path
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. rash — a series
  9. chip — to eat
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. track — a song
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. track — to keep track
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. bass — the fish
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lie — to recline

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