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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  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. board — a flat piece
  2. bank — for money
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bound — obliged
  5. game — a match
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. stock — goods
  8. stock — shares
  9. bound — tied together
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bank — for money
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bound — certain
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. game — wild animals
  20. bank — of a river
  21. pass — a permit
  22. board — to get on
  23. mouse — for a computer
  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