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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. deal — to handle
  5. content — the amount
  6. suit — in cards
  7. pitch — completely
  8. content — happy
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bank — for money
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — a division
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. rush — hurry
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. pitcher — a jug

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