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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. suit — clothes
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mate — to breed
  10. track — a song
  11. suit — in cards
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bass — the fish
  14. track — to keep track
  15. track — a path
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. mate — a partner
  18. bass — low music
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. mark — a grade
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. mark — a trace

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