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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. charge — in control
  3. track — a song
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. face — part of the head
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. rock — a stone
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. face — to point toward
  13. charge — a price
  14. stem — to come from
  15. hand — help
  16. fine — all right
  17. track — a path
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. face — to confront
  20. charge — electricity
  21. hand — in cards
  22. fork — in a road
  23. rock — music
  24. fine — high quality

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