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 120 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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. spell — magic
  7. pop — soda
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. rush — hurry
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. can — a tin
  12. pop — music
  13. branch — a division
  14. can — a tin
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. spell — letters
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. spell — a short time
  19. pop — to visit
  20. hand — in cards
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. can — to be able to
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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