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 120 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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. stock — shares
  3. bark — to shout
  4. board — to get on
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. saw — the tool
  8. board — a committee
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rash — a series
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stock — goods
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. rash — hasty
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. coach — a trainer

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