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: tube · hide · arm · craft · stock · wax · plane · mark

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. stock — shares
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. tube — a container
  12. tube — the underground
  13. craft — a skill
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. plane — a tool
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. craft — boats
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mark — a trace

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