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: rush · pop · fine · hand · pit · track · can · fall

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. fall — the season
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. hand — help
  6. track — a song
  7. pit — in a race
  8. rush — hurry
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. fall — to drop
  13. pop — to visit
  14. pit — a hole
  15. hand — in cards
  16. fine — all right
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. track — a path
  19. can — a tin
  20. fall — to drop
  21. track — to keep track
  22. fine — high quality
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. pop — soda

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