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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. branch — a division
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. bulb — for light
  10. dip — to sink
  11. prune — to trim
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. prune — to trim
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bank — for money
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. snap — to click
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — of a river
  24. branch — of a tree

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