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: nail · stock · fan · bass · date · file · racket · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. file — a line of people
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bass — the fish
  6. file — a document
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bass — low music
  9. date — the fruit
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. stock — shares
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. file — a tool
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. stock — goods
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. nail — on a finger

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