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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. pit — in a race
  3. stock — goods
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rash — a series
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. rash — hasty
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. fine — high quality
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. bulb — for light
  16. pit — a hole
  17. stock — shares
  18. mark — a grade
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. mark — a trace
  23. fine — all right
  24. hide — animal skin

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