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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. bulb — for light
  9. degree — from a university
  10. fine — all right
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. degree — an amount
  13. stock — goods
  14. degree — temperature
  15. stock — shares
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. lean — to bend
  18. suit — to fit
  19. lean — thin
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. fine — high quality

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