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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bank — of a river
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. branch — a division
  6. lean — thin
  7. bank — for money
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. mate — a partner
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mine — for digging
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mate — a friend
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. bank — for money
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mine — belonging to me

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