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: stock · ruler · vault · mine · land · trunk · fine · ball

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. vault — a safe
  6. ball — a dance
  7. land — to come down
  8. stock — goods
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. fine — all right
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mine — for digging
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. stock — shares
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. land — a country
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. land — ground
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. ball — a great time
  24. ruler — for measuring

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