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: pass · fine · track · present · rock · key · rash · rush

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. track — a path
  4. fine — all right
  5. key — in music
  6. rash — hasty
  7. key — for a lock
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. rash — a series
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rock — music
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. key — the most important part
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rush — hurry
  17. present — there
  18. track — to keep track
  19. track — a song
  20. present — the time now
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. fine — high quality
  24. rush — a thrill

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