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 116 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 · ruler · pound · can · fine · cabinet · swing · bark

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fine — high quality
  5. can — to be able to
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pound — a weight
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. swing — music
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. swing — in golf
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. swing — to play on
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. stock — shares
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stock — goods
  21. fine — all right
  22. bark — to shout
  23. can — a tin
  24. pound — to hit hard

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