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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. staff — a stick
  3. staff — employees
  4. bore — to drill
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — music
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. stock — shares
  12. mark — a grade
  13. stock — goods
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mark — a trace
  16. season — of the year
  17. season — in sport
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. lean — thin
  22. lean — to bend
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. staff — employees

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