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: degree · squash · stock · firm · can · wax · fine · rush

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. squash — the sport
  3. can — to be able to
  4. squash — to crush
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. degree — from a university
  8. wax — to grow
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. can — a tin
  11. fine — high quality
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. firm — a company
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. degree — an amount
  17. stock — shares
  18. stock — goods
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. degree — temperature
  21. firm — decided
  22. firm — steady
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — a penalty

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