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: fine · ball · roll · saw · ruler · pitcher · fall · stock

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. fall — the season
  3. saw — the tool
  4. stock — goods
  5. stock — shares
  6. fall — to drop
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — high quality
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. ball — a dance
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ball — a great time
  17. roll — a list
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. fall — to drop
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. roll — a cake
  24. pitcher — a jug

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