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: hide · foot · drill · stand · stock · cell · track · staff

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. stock — shares
  3. staff — a stick
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. staff — employees
  9. track — to keep track
  10. drill — army training
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. stand — to bear
  13. track — a song
  14. staff — employees
  15. stock — goods
  16. track — a path
  17. cell — a phone
  18. foot — a measure
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. drill — the tool
  22. drill — a practice
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. hide — to keep secret

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