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: rush · rash · chair · track · rock · leaves · pitcher · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rash — hasty
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rush — hurry
  7. chair — a leader
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. track — to keep track
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. track — a song
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. rock — music
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. rash — a series
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. track — a path
  24. rock — a stone

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