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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. wake — a trail
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bound — certain
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. bound — obliged
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mate — to breed
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bound — tied together
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mate — a friend
  19. pass — a permit
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. stock — shares

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