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 120 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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. chest — of your body
  3. ball — a dance
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. track — a path
  6. chest — of your body
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. bore — to drill
  9. ball — a great time
  10. track — to keep track
  11. chest — a box
  12. mark — a trace
  13. firm — steady
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. firm — a company
  16. bore — to tire
  17. firm — decided
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. mark — a grade
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. wave — with your hand

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