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: mark · mug · pitcher · stock · foot · field · pit · rock

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. stock — goods
  3. rock — music
  4. field — for sport
  5. foot — a measure
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mug — a face
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. mug — a cup
  14. field — a subject
  15. stock — shares
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. mug — to rob
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. mark — a grade
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pit — a hole
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. field — farmland

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