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: rash · cue · track · firm · bulb · spring · key · object

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. rash — a series
  3. track — a path
  4. track — to keep track
  5. bulb — for light
  6. spring — of water
  7. key — in music
  8. object — an aim
  9. track — a song
  10. cue — for pool
  11. spring — the season
  12. firm — a company
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. key — the most important part
  15. firm — steady
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. object — to protest
  19. firm — decided
  20. spring — a coil
  21. key — for a lock
  22. rash — hasty
  23. object — a thing
  24. cue — a signal

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