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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bound — obliged
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bound — tied together
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. bank — for money
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bound — certain
  10. mug — a face
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. prune — to trim
  13. mug — to rob
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. lie — to recline
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. hand — help
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bank — for money
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. saw — the tool
  23. branch — a division
  24. hand — in cards

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