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 wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. key — in music
  4. pass — a permit
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. can — a tin
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. branch — a division
  15. can — a tin
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. can — to be able to
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mine — for digging
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. branch — of a bank

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