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 supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. fork — in a road
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. stock — shares
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. wax — to grow
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. board — to get on
  13. plane — a tool
  14. mark — a grade
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. board — a committee
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. mark — a trace
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. wake — a trail
  24. coach — a trainer

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