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 strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. land — a country
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — a stick
  8. land — to come down
  9. stock — goods
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — a cup
  13. mug — to rob
  14. staff — employees
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. wind — moving air
  17. stock — shares
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. toast — bread
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. land — ground
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. wind — to turn a key

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