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: jam · bay · craft · wake · mark · spell · stock · rush

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. spell — a short time
  4. mark — a trace
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. spell — magic
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. stock — goods
  11. wake — a trail
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. spell — letters
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. mark — a grade
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. rush — hurry
  21. craft — a skill
  22. craft — boats
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. rush — to hurry

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