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: track · bound · pop · chip · lean · rock · key · rash

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bound — certain
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. key — the most important part
  7. rock — music
  8. track — to keep track
  9. pop — music
  10. bound — obliged
  11. track — a song
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. chip — to eat
  14. bound — tied together
  15. key — for a lock
  16. rash — a series
  17. track — a path
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. key — in music
  21. lean — to bend
  22. rash — hasty
  23. lean — thin
  24. pop — to visit

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