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 116 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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. bank — for money
  4. bulb — for light
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a song
  7. game — wild animals
  8. wound — an injury
  9. track — a path
  10. wound — an injury
  11. bank — of a river
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. game — a match
  17. cue — a signal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. cue — for pool
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. bank — for money

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