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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. pitch — completely
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. current — electric
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. net — in sport
  13. stock — shares
  14. current — of water
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. current — happening now
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — in sport
  19. dip — to sink
  20. net — after costs
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. stock — goods
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. dip — a sauce

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