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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mark — a grade
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. game — wild animals
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. face — part of the head
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. object — to protest
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. game — a match
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. face — to point toward
  15. branch — a division
  16. face — to confront
  17. object — an aim
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mark — a trace
  20. perch — the fish
  21. pit — a hole
  22. object — a thing
  23. pit — in a race
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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