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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mark — a trace
  6. can — to be able to
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. stock — shares
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bear — the animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — goods
  14. toast — bread
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. mark — a grade
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bass — low music

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