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: face · land · leaves · track · stick · rash · safe · bowl

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. track — a song
  5. track — a path
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. land — a country
  13. land — ground
  14. face — to point toward
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rash — hasty
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. land — to come down
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. rash — a series
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. face — part of the head

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