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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. chip — for betting
  6. can — a tin
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. ground — crushed
  14. chip — to eat
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. ground — a position
  17. branch — a division
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. ground — the earth
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. can — a tin
  24. pitcher — a jug

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