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: dip · bowl · season · net · coach · stock · wind · stand

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. wind — moving air
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. dip — to sink
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. stock — goods
  10. wind — moving air
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — in sport
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. net — after costs
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. stand — to bear
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. stock — shares
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bowl — a dish

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