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: jam · ball · scale · bank · roll · track · straw · stem

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. track — a song
  4. scale — in music
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bank — for money
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. stem — to come from
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bank — of a river
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. track — to keep track
  19. track — a path
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. roll — a list
  22. bank — for money
  23. scale — size or range
  24. roll — a cake

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