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 play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. track — to keep track
  3. track — a song
  4. wake — a trail
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cue — for pool
  7. rock — a stone
  8. cue — a signal
  9. land — a country
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. track — a path
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. bass — the fish
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. cue — a hint
  19. land — to come down
  20. land — ground
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bass — low music
  23. rock — music
  24. rash — a series

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