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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. firm — steady
  3. current — happening now
  4. rock — a stone
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. lean — to bend
  7. bass — the fish
  8. root — the cause
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. firm — decided
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. root — of a plant
  14. current — electric
  15. stock — goods
  16. current — of water
  17. rock — music
  18. lean — thin
  19. stock — shares
  20. bass — low music
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. firm — a company
  23. root — of a word
  24. foot — a measure

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