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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  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. pitcher — a jug
  2. rock — music
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. stock — shares
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. season — of the year
  15. deal — to handle
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. season — in sport
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fan — a supporter
  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