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: season · stock · rash · wave · bank · track · pit · mouse

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. rash — a series
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. rash — hasty
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. stock — shares
  9. track — a song
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bank — for money
  13. season — in sport
  14. track — to keep track
  15. pit — in a race
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. season — of the year
  19. track — a path
  20. pit — a hole
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. stock — goods

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