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 120 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 · ball · key · bass · cabinet · bark · root · racket

  1. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — low music
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. root — of a plant
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bark — to shout
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. key — the most important part
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. key — in music
  13. bass — the fish
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. ball — a great time
  16. key — for a lock
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. stock — goods
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. root — the cause
  22. stock — shares
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. root — of a word

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