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: fine · track · coach · sharp · pass · face · cap · bass

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. track — a song
  6. face — to point toward
  7. track — to keep track
  8. cap — a lid
  9. cap — of ice
  10. bass — low music
  11. cap — a hat
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. fine — high quality
  14. face — part of the head
  15. bass — the fish
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fine — all right
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. pass — a permit
  22. sharp — clever
  23. track — a path
  24. face — to confront

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