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: toast · bore · roll · stock · bank · jam · rash · pitcher

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bank — of a river
  7. roll — a cake
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. stock — shares
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. toast — bread
  15. roll — a list
  16. bore — to tire
  17. rash — a series
  18. bank — for money
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rash — hasty
  21. stock — goods
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bank — for money
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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