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: bass · stick · cell · toast · pop · plane · season · track

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  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. cell — in biology
  2. pop — soda
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. season — of the year
  5. toast — bread
  6. season — in sport
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. cell — a phone
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. pop — to visit
  12. bass — low music
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bass — the fish
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. track — a path
  18. track — to keep track
  19. plane — a tool
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. pop — music
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  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