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: key · mark · leaves · spring · stock · current · bound · tube

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. mark — a trace
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bound — certain
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. stock — shares
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. mark — a grade
  10. tube — a container
  11. current — electric
  12. stock — goods
  13. current — happening now
  14. bound — obliged
  15. spring — the season
  16. key — in music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. spring — of water
  19. bound — tied together
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. spring — a coil
  24. tube — the underground

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