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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. firm — a company
  4. ball — a great time
  5. rock — music
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. firm — steady
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. hand — help
  13. hand — in cards
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rock — a stone
  16. branch — a division
  17. firm — decided
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. ball — a dance
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lie — to recline

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