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 · toast · suit · straw · nail · scale · foot · mate

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. track — a path
  3. scale — in music
  4. track — a song
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. mate — a partner
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mate — to breed
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. toast — bread
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. suit — to fit
  19. scale — size or range
  20. track — to keep track
  21. mate — a friend
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. suit — clothes
  24. nail — for a hammer

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