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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. craft — boats
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. wind — moving air
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. wind — moving air
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. branch — a division
  18. craft — a skill
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bass — the fish
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. file — a document
  24. bass — low music

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