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. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. ground — crushed
  3. ground — the earth
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. field — farmland
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lie — to recline
  11. ground — a position
  12. stock — goods
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fine — all right
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. field — a subject
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. field — for sport
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fine — high quality
  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