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: leaves · track · toast · can · season · lean · face · tube

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  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. tube — in a tire
  2. tube — the underground
  3. season — in sport
  4. track — a song
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. can — a tin
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. face — part of the head
  11. lean — to bend
  12. track — a path
  13. can — to be able to
  14. face — to confront
  15. toast — bread
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. can — a tin
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. track — to keep track
  20. face — to point toward
  21. lean — thin
  22. season — of the year
  23. season — to add flavour
  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