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. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. press — a publisher
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. press — newspapers
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. branch — a division
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. wax — to grow
  19. press — to push
  20. bulb — for light
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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