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 · stick · plane · stock · pitch · net · mug · rock

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — music
  4. net — for catching
  5. stock — goods
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. plane — a tool
  8. net — in sport
  9. stock — shares
  10. net — after costs
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. fine — all right
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. mug — to rob
  18. pitch — completely
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. mug — a face
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. fine — high quality

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