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 120 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: coach · wake · deal · mate · stock · leaves · pop · key

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. pop — to visit
  3. pop — music
  4. stock — goods
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. mate — to breed
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. key — in music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. key — the most important part
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mate — a partner
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. deal — to handle
  21. stock — shares
  22. pop — soda
  23. mate — a friend
  24. leaves — to go away

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