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 124 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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. can — to be able to
  4. row — a line
  5. ball — a dance
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. can — a tin
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. wake — a trail
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. ball — a great time
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. perch — the fish
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. row — to paddle
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. branch — a division
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. lash — to lash out

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