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: stock · fine · key · root · fan · wave · spell · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. scale — size or range
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. stock — goods
  7. spell — a short time
  8. root — the cause
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. scale — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. root — of a plant
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. stock — shares
  16. spell — magic
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. root — of a word
  20. fine — all right
  21. spell — letters
  22. key — the most important part
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. wave — with your hand

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