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. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. track — a path
  5. track — a song
  6. mark — a trace
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. mark — a grade
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. date — the fruit
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rush — hurry
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. bark — to shout
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. stock — shares
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. track — to keep track
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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