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: craft · stand · net · stock · coach · pitch · rock · leaves

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. pitch — completely
  6. net — for catching
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. net — in sport
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. stock — shares
  13. craft — boats
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. net — after costs
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. rock — a stone
  19. craft — a skill
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. rock — music
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. stock — goods
  24. coach — a trainer

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