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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rash — a series
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. branch — a division
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. pitch — completely
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a committee
  13. rash — hasty
  14. bore — to drill
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. mark — a trace
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. spell — letters
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. bore — to tire
  22. fork — in a road
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. spell — magic

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