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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. cue — for pool
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. suit — clothes
  5. hand — in cards
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bank — for money
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. hand — help
  14. suit — in cards
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cue — a signal
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. branch — a division
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bank — for money

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