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 120 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: mate · key · net · bulb · track · stick · object · firm

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. track — to keep track
  3. mate — to breed
  4. key — for a lock
  5. track — a path
  6. bulb — for light
  7. net — after costs
  8. bulb — for light
  9. object — an aim
  10. mate — a partner
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. track — a song
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. object — to protest
  15. net — for catching
  16. firm — decided
  17. firm — a company
  18. mate — a friend
  19. key — in music
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. net — in sport
  23. firm — steady
  24. key — the most important part

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