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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. net — in sport
  3. bound — certain
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. can — to be able to
  6. board — to get on
  7. stock — shares
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. stock — goods
  10. kick — in football
  11. bound — tied together
  12. sharp — clever
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bound — obliged
  16. net — for catching
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. board — a committee
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — a tin
  24. kick — with a leg

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