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: track · wax · fan · kid · ball · suit · bowl · field

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. field — farmland
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. kid — child
  9. wax — to grow
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ball — a great time
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. track — to keep track
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. track — a song
  19. field — a subject
  20. kid — to tease
  21. field — for sport
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. suit — in cards
  24. fan — a supporter

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