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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. cue — for pool
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. cue — a signal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. branch — a division
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pass — a permit
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. fork — in a road
  19. roll — a cake
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. roll — a list

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