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: mark · lean · toast · track · board · pass · bore · spell

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. toast — bread
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. track — a path
  6. lean — thin
  7. bore — to tire
  8. board — to get on
  9. bore — to drill
  10. board — a committee
  11. track — a song
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. spell — magic
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. mark — a grade
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pass — a permit
  21. spell — letters
  22. mark — a trace
  23. spell — a short time
  24. toast — the most admired

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