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: coach · current · vault · deal · stock · bulb · track · face

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. track — a path
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. current — of water
  6. face — to point toward
  7. stock — goods
  8. track — a song
  9. track — to keep track
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. current — happening now
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. stock — shares
  14. current — electric
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. face — part of the head
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bulb — for light
  19. deal — to handle
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. bulb — for light
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. vault — a safe
  24. face — to confront

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