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: lean · object · bulb · key · bat · date · current · track

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. bat — the animal
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. bulb — for light
  5. track — a song
  6. object — a thing
  7. track — a path
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. date — the fruit
  10. current — electric
  11. current — of water
  12. track — to keep track
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. lean — thin
  17. bulb — for light
  18. object — to protest
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. lean — to bend
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. current — happening now
  23. key — the most important part
  24. object — an aim

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