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 · scale · staff · track · calf · mug · date · mark

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. track — to keep track
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. staff — employees
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. staff — employees
  7. roll — a list
  8. mark — a trace
  9. staff — a stick
  10. mug — to rob
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. roll — a cake
  13. track — a song
  14. mug — a face
  15. scale — in music
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. mug — a cup
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. track — a path
  22. date — the fruit
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. mark — a grade

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