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: calf · mug · march · date · stock · rush · track · arm

  1. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — goods
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mug — a face
  4. march — the month
  5. mug — a cup
  6. track — to keep track
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. march — music
  10. stock — shares
  11. track — a song
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. march — the month
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. date — the fruit
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. track — a path
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. arm — part of the body

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