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: key · stand · track · bay · sharp · fine · toast · face

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. key — in music
  4. sharp — clever
  5. track — a path
  6. track — a song
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. face — to point toward
  10. face — part of the head
  11. fine — high quality
  12. toast — bread
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. stand — to bear
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. track — to keep track
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. face — to confront
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. key — for a lock

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