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 · leaves · cue · can · bank · suit · file · bound

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bank — for money
  5. suit — to fit
  6. cue — a hint
  7. bank — for money
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. cue — a signal
  10. stock — goods
  11. file — a document
  12. bank — of a river
  13. can — a tin
  14. suit — in cards
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. cue — for pool
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. stock — shares
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bound — certain
  22. file — a line of people
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bound — obliged

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