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 116 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 · row · rest · plane · cue · pop · bass · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. row — a line
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. plane — a tool
  5. ground — crushed
  6. pop — soda
  7. cue — a signal
  8. ground — a position
  9. bass — the fish
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. bass — low music
  12. cue — for pool
  13. row — to paddle
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. pop — to visit
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — what's left
  18. track — to keep track
  19. rest — a break
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. pop — music
  22. cue — a hint
  23. track — a song
  24. track — a path

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