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

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. prune — to trim
  4. prune — to trim
  5. rash — hasty
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. spell — a short time
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bank — of a river
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. bulb — for light
  18. spell — letters
  19. bank — for money
  20. spell — magic
  21. rash — a series
  22. bank — for money
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. fan — a supporter

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