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: chip · key · mine · ball · track · lie · rash · patient

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. lie — to recline
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. track — a path
  6. ball — a great time
  7. chip — for betting
  8. mine — for digging
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. chip — to eat
  13. key — the most important part
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rash — a series
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. key — in music
  18. track — a song
  19. ball — a dance
  20. key — for a lock
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. rash — hasty

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