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: toast · cabinet · pit · track · rest · scale · rash · racket

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. rash — a series
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. toast — bread
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. track — a song
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. rest — what's left
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. pit — a hole
  13. track — to keep track
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — a break
  16. pit — in a race
  17. track — a path
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. scale — in music
  21. scale — size or range
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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