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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. charge — electricity
  3. club — a group
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. rest — what's left
  6. charge — in control
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. club — for dancing
  10. field — a subject
  11. bark — to shout
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. club — for golf
  15. rest — a break
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. toast — bread
  18. charge — a price
  19. field — for sport
  20. field — farmland
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. rest — what's left
  23. branch — a division
  24. bark — of a tree

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