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: bank · toast · firm · root · pit · fan · stock · mark

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. root — the cause
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bank — for money
  7. pit — in a race
  8. firm — a company
  9. root — of a plant
  10. mark — a grade
  11. firm — decided
  12. pit — a hole
  13. mark — a trace
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. stock — shares
  16. root — of a word
  17. firm — steady
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. toast — bread
  21. stock — goods
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — of a river
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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