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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. spell — magic
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — the tool
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. spell — a short time
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. rash — hasty
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. suit — clothes
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. cap — a lid
  17. spell — letters
  18. cap — a hat
  19. branch — a division
  20. suit — to fit
  21. cap — of ice
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. rash — a series
  24. rash — on the skin

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