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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. track — a song
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. rush — hurry
  5. track — a path
  6. rash — a series
  7. can — a tin
  8. key — the most important part
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. stem — to come from
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. staff — employees
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. can — a tin
  18. staff — a stick
  19. key — for a lock
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rash — hasty
  22. key — in music
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. staff — employees

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