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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. track — a song
  3. track — to keep track
  4. staff — employees
  5. file — a tool
  6. track — a path
  7. mate — to breed
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. staff — employees
  10. mark — a trace
  11. file — a document
  12. scale — in music
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mate — a partner
  17. spell — letters
  18. scale — size or range
  19. staff — a stick
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. spell — magic
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mate — a friend

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