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 120 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: file · fan · sharp · bay · current · stock · coach · lie

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. current — happening now
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. stock — shares
  5. current — electric
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. file — a line of people
  9. file — a tool
  10. lie — to recline
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. sharp — clever
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. current — of water
  22. stock — goods
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. stock — a soup base

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