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 116 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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. object — a thing
  4. bulb — for light
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. object — to protest
  7. spell — letters
  8. stock — goods
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. stock — shares
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. spell — magic
  14. spell — a short time
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — to get on
  19. object — an aim
  20. bulb — for light
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. mark — a grade
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. board — a committee

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