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 120 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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. net — after costs
  4. bound — certain
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. pit — in a race
  7. pit — a hole
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. branch — a division
  10. suit — in cards
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. suit — clothes
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. wound — an injury
  15. suit — to fit
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bound — tied together
  19. net — in sport
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bound — obliged
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. wound — an injury
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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