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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. branch — a division
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. bass — the fish
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bass — low music
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. bark — to shout
  14. rock — music
  15. chip — to eat
  16. chip — for betting
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rock — a stone
  24. nail — on a finger

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