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 potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. chip — to eat
  3. object — to protest
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. branch — a division
  7. degree — temperature
  8. object — an aim
  9. mark — a trace
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. mate — a partner
  18. object — a thing
  19. chip — for betting
  20. mark — a grade
  21. degree — an amount
  22. mate — a friend
  23. degree — from a university
  24. mate — to breed

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