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: leaves · field · saw · track · vault · file · rock · wave

  1. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — an arched ceiling
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. file — a line of people
  5. vault — a safe
  6. file — a document
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. saw — the tool
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. rock — music
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. track — a path
  15. saw — the tool
  16. track — to keep track
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. field — a subject
  19. field — farmland
  20. rock — a stone
  21. file — a tool
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. field — for sport
  24. track — a song

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