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: bear · cue · branch · rock · tube · wake · deal · stock

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rock — music
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. cue — for pool
  6. tube — a container
  7. bear — the animal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cue — a signal
  10. stock — shares
  11. deal — to handle
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. wake — a trail
  20. tube — the underground
  21. rock — a stone
  22. stock — goods
  23. cue — a hint
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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