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: bank · stock · nail · rash · stand · saw · sharp · mark

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. bank — for money
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. stock — goods
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mark — a trace
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bank — of a river
  13. saw — the tool
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rash — a series
  19. bank — for money
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. stock — shares
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rash — on the skin

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