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: vault · stock · roll · pitcher · kick · season · rock · mate

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. roll — a cake
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. kick — in football
  9. stock — shares
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a list
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — a partner
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. season — of the year
  19. stock — goods
  20. season — in sport
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. mate — to breed
  23. rock — music
  24. vault — a safe

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