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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. board — to get on
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mark — a grade
  7. board — a committee
  8. suit — to fit
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. wound — an injury
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. pass — a permit
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. suit — clothes
  18. branch — a division
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. mark — a trace
  24. wound — an injury

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