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: bowl · track · chip · last · board · rash · key · bound

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. key — in music
  3. chip — to eat
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. board — to get on
  6. bound — obliged
  7. rash — a series
  8. last — finally
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. last — to go on
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. track — a song
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bound — certain
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. board — a committee
  18. rash — hasty
  19. key — the most important part
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. last — final
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bowl — a football final

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