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: prune · can · track · pitcher · club · lash · key · pass

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. key — the most important part
  3. track — to keep track
  4. prune — to trim
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. track — a path
  7. track — a song
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. club — for golf
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. key — in music
  14. club — for dancing
  15. pass — a permit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. club — a group
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. can — a tin
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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