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 116 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. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. staff — a stick
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. current — happening now
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. branch — a division
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pound — a weight
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. staff — employees
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. staff — employees
  15. current — electric
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. wound — an injury
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. current — of water
  23. pitch — completely
  24. leaves — lets stay

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