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: stock · rock · nail · object · prune · ball · cue · field

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rock — music
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cue — a hint
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. ball — a great time
  9. object — a thing
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. cue — for pool
  12. rock — a stone
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. field — farmland
  15. stock — goods
  16. field — a subject
  17. prune — to trim
  18. object — an aim
  19. prune — to trim
  20. object — to protest
  21. cue — a signal
  22. ball — a dance
  23. field — for sport
  24. nail — for a hammer

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