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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mate — a friend
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. rest — what's left
  8. deal — to handle
  9. mate — a partner
  10. roll — a cake
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rest — what's left
  15. mate — to breed
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. roll — a list
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rest — a break
  23. toast — bread
  24. deal — an agreement

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