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: saw · scale · stem · lean · key · spell · stock · pop

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. saw — the tool
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. pop — to visit
  5. lean — thin
  6. key — for a lock
  7. pop — music
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. key — the most important part
  11. scale — in music
  12. spell — magic
  13. pop — soda
  14. key — in music
  15. scale — size or range
  16. saw — the tool
  17. stock — shares
  18. stem — to come from
  19. stock — goods
  20. spell — a short time
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. spell — letters
  24. lean — to bend

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