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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stock — shares
  3. perch — the fish
  4. charge — a price
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. key — in music
  7. stock — goods
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. rock — music
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. staff — employees
  15. wax — to grow
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. staff — a stick
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. key — for a lock
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — electricity
  24. key — the most important part

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