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: racket · rock · key · jam · bark · pass · game · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. key — in music
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. pass — a permit
  5. ball — a dance
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — a stone
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. key — the most important part
  14. key — for a lock
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. game — a match
  19. bark — to shout
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. game — wild animals
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. pass — to succeed

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