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: land · suit · track · pit · charge · wave · ball · rock

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. suit — clothes
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. track — a path
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. track — a song
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. land — a country
  11. land — to come down
  12. ball — a dance
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rock — a stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. pit — in a race
  18. land — ground
  19. charge — electricity
  20. rock — music
  21. track — to keep track
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. charge — in control
  24. ball — a great time

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