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: snap · suit · ball · bear · spell · track · rock · craft

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. ball — a dance
  4. track — a song
  5. track — to keep track
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rock — a stone
  10. craft — boats
  11. suit — clothes
  12. snap — to click
  13. spell — letters
  14. craft — a skill
  15. suit — in cards
  16. rock — music
  17. suit — to fit
  18. spell — a short time
  19. track — a path
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. spell — magic
  24. bear — to put up with

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