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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — music
  5. prune — to trim
  6. content — the amount
  7. object — an aim
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. bore — to tire
  10. current — electric
  11. bore — to drill
  12. content — happy
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. prune — to trim
  18. current — of water
  19. object — to protest
  20. stock — goods
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. rock — a stone
  23. current — happening now
  24. stock — shares

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