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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bowl · sharp · stock · bear · fan · dip · row · safe

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. dip — to sink
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. stock — goods
  5. stock — shares
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. bear — the animal
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. row — a line
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. sharp — clever
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bear — the animal

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