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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. pit — in a race
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. march — the month
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bound — obliged
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. roll — a list
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. face — part of the head
  13. pit — a hole
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. face — to point toward
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bound — certain
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. face — to confront
  21. bound — tied together
  22. march — the month
  23. branch — a division
  24. march — music

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