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 116 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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. stand — to bear
  3. prune — to trim
  4. branch — a division
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. prune — to trim
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bass — the fish
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. bass — low music
  17. saw — the tool
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. pass — a permit
  24. branch — of a bank

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