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: lash · stock · shower · ground · deal · bass · safe · bear

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. shower — to wash
  4. stock — goods
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. deal — to handle
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. bear — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. ground — the earth
  15. bass — low music
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. stock — shares
  21. bear — the animal
  22. ground — crushed
  23. bass — the fish
  24. ground — a position

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