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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. track — a song
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. track — a path
  8. clip — for paper
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. charge — electricity
  11. bear — the animal
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. charge — a price
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. ball — a great time
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. bear — the animal
  18. clip — a video
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. clip — to cut
  21. ball — a dance
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. charge — in control
  24. track — to keep track

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