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 116 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: land · rock · stock · suit · dip · rash · stick · root

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. stock — goods
  3. suit — to fit
  4. root — the cause
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. dip — to sink
  7. stock — shares
  8. rock — music
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. suit — in cards
  11. rock — a stone
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. root — of a word
  15. root — of a plant
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. land — to come down
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. suit — clothes
  20. rash — a series
  21. land — ground
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. rash — hasty
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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