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: content · firm · track · tube · jam · mate · rule · mark

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. track — a song
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. mate — to breed
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a grade
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. track — a path
  9. firm — steady
  10. track — to keep track
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. firm — a company
  13. firm — decided
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. rule — a law
  17. tube — the underground
  18. content — happy
  19. mark — a trace
  20. mate — a partner
  21. content — the amount
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. rule — government
  24. tube — a container

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