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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bound — certain
  3. fine — all right
  4. rash — a series
  5. net — for catching
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. charge — in control
  10. bound — tied together
  11. charge — a price
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. bound — obliged
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rash — hasty
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. current — of water
  19. branch — a division
  20. current — happening now
  21. net — after costs
  22. current — electric
  23. fine — high quality
  24. net — in sport

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