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: club · stand · stock · current · jam · rush · pitch · date

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. club — for golf
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. pitch — completely
  9. current — of water
  10. date — the fruit
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. club — for dancing
  13. rush — hurry
  14. current — electric
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. club — a group
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stock — shares
  23. current — happening now
  24. date — on the calendar

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