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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. saw — the tool
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. root — of a word
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. track — to keep track
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bank — of a river
  14. ground — the earth
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. track — a path
  18. ground — crushed
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. root — the cause
  21. ground — a position
  22. bank — for money
  23. branch — a division
  24. bank — for money

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