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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. chip — to eat
  3. file — a tool
  4. chip — for betting
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. file — a document
  9. stock — shares
  10. tube — a container
  11. land — to come down
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. tube — the underground
  17. land — ground
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. land — a country
  22. rush — hurry
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. stock — goods

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