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: mouse · toast · net · pass · court · saw · spring · stock

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. spring — a coil
  3. stock — goods
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pass — a permit
  8. saw — the tool
  9. net — after costs
  10. court — of law
  11. spring — the season
  12. toast — bread
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. court — for sport
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. court — of a king
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. net — in sport
  21. spring — of water
  22. net — for catching
  23. stock — shares
  24. stock — a soup base

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