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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. object — a thing
  3. branch — a division
  4. press — to push
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. spell — letters
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. press — a publisher
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. spell — a short time
  12. object — an aim
  13. object — to protest
  14. can — a tin
  15. spell — magic
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. board — to get on
  18. wax — to grow
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. board — a committee
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. can — to be able to
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. press — newspapers

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