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 · foot · staff · rock · toast · row · coach · firm

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. firm — a company
  3. track — a song
  4. foot — a measure
  5. row — a line
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. track — to keep track
  9. rock — a stone
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. row — to paddle
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. rock — music
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. staff — employees
  18. firm — steady
  19. toast — bread
  20. firm — decided
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. staff — employees
  23. staff — a stick
  24. rock — to move gently

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