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: land · leaves · ruler · stock · fine · current · march · bass

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. fine — high quality
  3. land — ground
  4. bass — low music
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. current — happening now
  11. march — music
  12. current — electric
  13. bass — the fish
  14. march — the month
  15. fine — all right
  16. stock — goods
  17. current — of water
  18. march — the month
  19. stock — shares
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. land — a country
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. land — to come down
  24. fine — a penalty

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