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 116 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. mug — a face
  5. can — a tin
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pass — a permit
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stock — shares
  10. can — a tin
  11. last — final
  12. can — to be able to
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. mug — a cup
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. last — to go on
  19. mug — to rob
  20. stand — to bear
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. last — finally
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stock — goods

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