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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. stock — goods
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. wind — moving air
  8. can — a tin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. toast — bread
  14. root — of a plant
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. stock — shares
  18. can — a tin
  19. root — the cause
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wind — moving air
  22. key — in music
  23. root — of a word
  24. key — the most important part

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