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: bound · stand · deal · date · lash · nail · stock · can

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. stock — shares
  5. bound — certain
  6. bound — tied together
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. bound — obliged
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. stock — goods
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. deal — to handle
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. date — the fruit
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. stand — to bear
  24. can — a tin

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