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: bowl · track · rush · cap · squash · perch · racket · nail

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. track — to keep track
  3. cap — a hat
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. track — a path
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. cap — a lid
  15. track — a song
  16. squash — to crush
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. cap — of ice
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. squash — the sport
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. perch — the fish
  24. nail — on a finger

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