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 · bound · patient · track · racket · board · chip · dip

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. bound — certain
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. bound — obliged
  5. dip — to sink
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. chip — for betting
  10. track — to keep track
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. key — in music
  13. track — a song
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bound — tied together
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — a committee
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. key — the most important part
  22. chip — to eat
  23. board — to get on
  24. dip — a sauce

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