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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. can — to be able to
  4. track — a path
  5. track — to keep track
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. can — a tin
  9. saw — the tool
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. branch — a division
  17. deal — to handle
  18. saw — the tool
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. track — a song
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. can — a tin
  24. rush — hurry

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