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 116 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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. branch — a division
  4. pop — music
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. land — ground
  8. land — to come down
  9. content — happy
  10. charge — electricity
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. charge — a price
  13. pop — to visit
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. pop — soda
  16. land — a country
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. content — the amount
  23. pound — a weight
  24. charge — in control

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