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: stock · sharp · saw · hand · pitch · bay · racket · stick

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. saw — the tool
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. hand — help
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — clever
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. stock — goods
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. stock — shares
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pitch — completely
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. hand — in cards

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