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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. mark — a trace
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. stock — shares
  9. tube — a container
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. band — a ring
  13. branch — a division
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. stock — goods
  16. band — a music group
  17. mark — a grade
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. sharp — clever
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. tube — the underground

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