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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. branch — a division
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. face — to point toward
  6. spring — a coil
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. mark — a trace
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. mark — a grade
  16. spring — the season
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. spring — of water
  19. face — to confront
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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