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: fork · race · stock · cue · mate · date · ball · rest

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. mate — to breed
  3. rest — a break
  4. race — humankind
  5. mate — a friend
  6. race — the arms race
  7. rest — what's left
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cue — for pool
  10. stock — shares
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. stock — goods
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. mate — a partner
  16. date — the fruit
  17. cue — a hint
  18. rest — what's left
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. ball — a dance
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. cue — a signal
  24. race — a contest

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