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: stand · band · key · saw · rush · can · stock · pop

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  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. key — in music
  2. pop — to visit
  3. band — a music group
  4. key — the most important part
  5. saw — the tool
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — hurry
  10. band — a ring
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. can — a tin
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. pop — music
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. can — a tin
  19. stock — goods
  20. stock — shares
  21. stand — to bear
  22. pop — soda
  23. key — for a lock
  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