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: track · club · rush · pass · date · suit · dip · present

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. present — a gift
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. track — to keep track
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. track — a song
  8. track — a path
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. dip — to sink
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. present — there
  13. present — the time now
  14. club — for dancing
  15. suit — clothes
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. suit — in cards
  18. date — the fruit
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. suit — to fit
  22. club — a group
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. club — for golf

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