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's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bank — for money
  4. board — to get on
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. land — to come down
  9. bank — for money
  10. stock — goods
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bulb — for light
  13. board — a committee
  14. bulb — for light
  15. land — a country
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. stock — shares
  21. bear — the animal
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. land — ground

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