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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bore — to drill
  3. face — to confront
  4. swing — to play on
  5. face — part of the head
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. swing — music
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. charge — electricity
  10. branch — a division
  11. scale — size or range
  12. charge — in control
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. charge — a price
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. ball — a great time
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. face — to point toward
  21. ball — a dance
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. scale — in music
  24. swing — in golf

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