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: bound · can · file · drill · net · wave · saw · stock

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. can — a tin
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. can — a tin
  7. file — a line of people
  8. net — for catching
  9. drill — army training
  10. bound — certain
  11. file — a tool
  12. bound — tied together
  13. bound — obliged
  14. net — in sport
  15. net — after costs
  16. stock — shares
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. file — a document
  20. saw — the tool
  21. drill — the tool
  22. stock — goods
  23. saw — the tool
  24. can — to be able to

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