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 120 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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. craft — a skill
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. spell — a short time
  7. mug — a face
  8. staff — employees
  9. mug — a cup
  10. deal — to handle
  11. craft — boats
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. can — a tin
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. spell — letters
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — to be able to
  18. stock — goods
  19. spell — magic
  20. staff — a stick
  21. stock — shares
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. can — a tin
  24. ruler — a monarch

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