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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. prune — to trim
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rest — what's left
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. fork — in a road
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. prune — to trim
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. rest — a break
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. rest — what's left
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. hide — animal skin

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