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: lean · rush · board · arm · stock · key · bowl · bound

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. board — to get on
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. key — the most important part
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lean — thin
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. stock — goods
  10. stock — shares
  11. key — for a lock
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. lean — to bend
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. key — in music
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. board — a committee
  20. bound — obliged
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bound — certain

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