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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. cap — a hat
  3. stock — shares
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. key — in music
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. stock — goods
  9. cap — of ice
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. key — for a lock
  17. wax — to grow
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. rock — a stone
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. key — the most important part
  24. rock — music

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