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: suit · squash · patient · stick · nail · can · racket · track

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. suit — to fit
  3. track — to keep track
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. squash — the sport
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. can — to be able to
  11. suit — clothes
  12. can — a tin
  13. track — a song
  14. track — a path
  15. suit — in cards
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. can — a tin
  24. racket — a loud noise

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