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 120 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: nail · tube · bore · cap · plane · rock · fan · stock

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. tube — a container
  5. cap — of ice
  6. tube — the underground
  7. cap — a hat
  8. bore — to drill
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bore — to tire
  11. stock — goods
  12. stock — shares
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. rock — a stone
  22. plane — a tool
  23. cap — a lid
  24. rock — music

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