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 didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  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. bat — in an idiom
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. stock — shares
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. chip — to eat
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bound — obliged
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bound — certain
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bound — tied together
  15. foot — a measure
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. bat — the animal
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. chip — for betting
  20. mug — a face
  21. wound — an injury
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  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