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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. club — for dancing
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. club — for golf
  6. club — a group
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ground — a position
  9. season — in sport
  10. stand — to bear
  11. lie — to recline
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. branch — a division
  14. plane — a tool
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rock — a stone
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. rock — music
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. season — of the year
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. ground — crushed

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