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: bulb · capital · bay · stock · board · cue · rock · hand

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. bulb — for light
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. rock — a stone
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. board — to get on
  7. capital — a city
  8. cue — for pool
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. stock — shares
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. hand — help
  16. stock — goods
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. board — a committee
  20. hand — in cards
  21. cue — a hint
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. rock — music
  24. cue — a signal

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