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: roll · clip · temple · key · track · rock · charge · wake

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. key — in music
  4. track — to keep track
  5. rock — music
  6. roll — a cake
  7. charge — electricity
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — a stone
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. key — for a lock
  13. clip — for paper
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. wake — a trail
  16. track — a song
  17. clip — a video
  18. charge — in control
  19. roll — a list
  20. key — the most important part
  21. track — a path
  22. clip — to cut
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. charge — a price

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