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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. staff — a stick
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — a division
  5. staff — employees
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. squash — the sport
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. suit — clothes
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. stem — to come from
  15. squash — to crush
  16. staff — employees
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — tied together
  22. bound — certain
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. squash — the vegetable

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