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: last · leaves · stand · track · nail · bulb · suit · pitcher

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. track — a song
  3. last — final
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stand — to bear
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. track — a path
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. suit — clothes
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bulb — for light
  14. last — to go on
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. suit — to fit
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. last — finally
  23. track — to keep track
  24. bulb — for light

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