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: stock · wake · mark · shower · stand · jam · foot · wax

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. wake — a trail
  5. mark — a grade
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. stand — to bear
  8. foot — a measure
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. shower — to wash
  12. mark — a trace
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. stock — goods
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. stock — shares
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wake — before a funeral

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