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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. file — a line of people
  3. roll — a cake
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. roll — a list
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. can — a tin
  12. branch — a division
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. file — a tool
  17. current — of water
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — electric

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