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 · key · suit · spell · mate · band · stock · tube

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. band — a music group
  3. tube — a container
  4. fine — high quality
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. mate — to breed
  7. suit — in cards
  8. stock — shares
  9. key — in music
  10. suit — clothes
  11. suit — to fit
  12. tube — the underground
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mate — a friend
  15. key — the most important part
  16. spell — letters
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. spell — magic
  19. band — a ring
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. mate — a partner
  22. stock — goods
  23. fine — all right
  24. band — a rubber band

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