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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · racket · rest · stand · spell · bulb · roll · fine

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bulb — for light
  4. spell — letters
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. track — a path
  7. spell — a short time
  8. fine — all right
  9. bulb — for light
  10. track — a song
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. roll — a cake
  14. track — to keep track
  15. spell — magic
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. fine — high quality
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — to bear
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — what's left
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. roll — a list
  24. rest — a break

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