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 124 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's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  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. field — a subject
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mark — a trace
  4. field — for sport
  5. plane — a tool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. suit — clothes
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. track — a path
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rash — hasty
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. bulb — for light
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. fine — all right
  19. track — a song
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. field — farmland
  22. track — to keep track
  23. mark — a grade
  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