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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. net — for catching
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. mark — a trace
  5. bass — the fish
  6. track — a path
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — to fit
  9. present — there
  10. track — a song
  11. field — a subject
  12. present — a gift
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. net — after costs
  15. field — for sport
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. track — to keep track
  18. present — the time now
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bass — low music
  21. net — in sport
  22. field — farmland
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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