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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. pound — a weight
  3. track — a song
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. saw — the tool
  7. snap — to click
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. track — to keep track
  11. track — a path
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. pop — soda
  18. wake — a trail
  19. saw — the tool
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. pop — to visit
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. pop — music
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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