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 · ball · plane · rash · stem · stock · jam · pop

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. bank — for money
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. pop — to visit
  6. stem — to come from
  7. pop — soda
  8. rash — hasty
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. pop — music
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bank — of a river
  14. stock — goods
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bank — for money
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. plane — a tool
  21. ball — a great time
  22. rash — a series
  23. stock — shares
  24. ball — a dance

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