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 116 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: rock · safe · track · stand · leaves · lie · pop · spring

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — to bear
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lie — to recline
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. spring — the season
  9. track — a path
  10. spring — of water
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. track — a song
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. pop — music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pop — to visit
  21. track — to keep track
  22. rock — music
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pop — soda

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