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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. deal — to handle
  4. ground — a position
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. branch — a division
  7. board — to get on
  8. spring — the season
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. ground — crushed
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. ground — the earth
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pass — a permit
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. board — a committee
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. spring — of water
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. spring — a coil

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