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. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. staff — employees
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. staff — employees
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. pit — a hole
  10. fine — high quality
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. fine — all right
  19. bulb — for light
  20. sharp — clever
  21. staff — a stick
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pit — in a race
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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