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 116 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'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. track — a path
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. track — a song
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. current — electric
  10. firm — decided
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. current — happening now
  13. file — a tool
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. file — a line of people
  16. firm — a company
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. current — of water
  19. file — a document
  20. branch — a division
  21. track — to keep track
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. bowl — a football final

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