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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. file — a document
  4. club — for dancing
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. file — a tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. club — a group
  12. snap — to click
  13. can — a tin
  14. branch — a division
  15. bank — of a river
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bank — for money
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. file — a line of people
  20. bank — for money
  21. stock — shares
  22. stock — goods
  23. club — for golf
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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