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 · calf · bat · mouse · rush · pit · stock · prune

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. stock — shares
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pit — in a race
  8. prune — to trim
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. rush — hurry
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. pit — a hole
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. stock — goods
  20. bat — the animal
  21. fine — high quality
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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