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: lash · game · leaves · roll · ball · stock · lie · bowl

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. stock — goods
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. game — wild animals
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. game — a match
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. roll — a list
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a dance
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stock — shares
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. roll — a cake

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