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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fall — the season
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. stock — shares
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bound — certain
  7. row — to paddle
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stock — goods
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. row — a line
  12. bound — tied together
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fall — to drop
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. fall — to drop
  24. pitcher — a jug

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