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. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. branch — a division
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. stock — goods
  8. tube — the underground
  9. key — for a lock
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. plane — a tool
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. key — the most important part
  23. chair — a leader
  24. key — in music

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