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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. march — the month
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. charge — a price
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bulb — for light
  10. band — a music group
  11. band — a ring
  12. fine — high quality
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. branch — a division
  16. march — music
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. fine — all right
  19. charge — in control
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. march — the month
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. charge — electricity

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