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

Word bank: lie · track · nail · rock · wake · charge · stock · mug

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. mug — a cup
  4. rock — a stone
  5. charge — a price
  6. wake — a trail
  7. track — a path
  8. rock — music
  9. charge — electricity
  10. stock — goods
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a song
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mug — to rob
  18. charge — in control
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. stock — shares
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. mug — a face
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. lie — to recline

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