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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. spring — the season
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. spring — of water
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. current — electric
  11. branch — a division
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cap — a hat
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. cap — of ice
  21. spring — a coil
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bark — to shout
  24. leaves — to go away

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