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: dip · cabinet · track · charge · bear · sharp · court · roll

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. sharp — clever
  5. court — of a king
  6. bear — the animal
  7. court — of law
  8. charge — in control
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. track — to keep track
  11. charge — a price
  12. track — a path
  13. charge — electricity
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bear — the animal
  16. roll — a list
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. dip — to sink
  19. court — for sport
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. roll — a cake
  24. track — a song

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