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. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — a committee
  4. band — a ring
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. spell — magic
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. spell — letters
  18. branch — a division
  19. rush — hurry
  20. spell — a short time
  21. band — a music group
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. board — to get on
  24. rush — a thrill

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