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 · stock · calf · bear · cell · board · ball · bass

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. cell — a phone
  4. ball — a dance
  5. bear — the animal
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. board — a committee
  8. track — a song
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. track — a path
  13. stock — shares
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. stock — goods
  16. track — to keep track
  17. bear — the animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. bass — the fish
  21. cell — in biology
  22. board — to get on
  23. ball — a great time
  24. calf — a young animal

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