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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. stand — to bear
  3. net — in sport
  4. cap — a lid
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. net — for catching
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. branch — a division
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. net — after costs
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. cap — of ice
  24. arm — part of the body

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