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: racket · nail · stock · rash · hand · dip · cue · lean

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  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. lean — to rest against
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. rash — a series
  4. hand — help
  5. stock — shares
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. dip — to sink
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. lean — thin
  12. hand — in cards
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. cue — a hint
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. lean — to bend
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. rash — hasty
  22. stock — goods
  23. stock — a soup base
  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