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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — a safe
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. branch — a division
  5. mark — a trace
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. foot — a measure
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. saw — the tool
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. saw — the tool
  15. chest — a box
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mark — a grade
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. toast — bread
  21. bass — low music
  22. chest — of your body
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. chest — of your body

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