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. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. mug — a cup
  4. current — of water
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. swing — music
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. current — happening now
  11. swing — to play on
  12. perch — the fish
  13. current — electric
  14. swing — in golf
  15. mug — to rob
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. mug — a face
  18. pop — to visit
  19. can — a tin
  20. pop — music
  21. can — a tin
  22. pop — soda
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. can — to be able to

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