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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. fork — a garden tool
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. deal — to handle
  8. mug — to rob
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. snap — to click
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. fork — in a road
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. mug — a cup
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. branch — a division
  22. mug — a face
  23. bark — to shout
  24. calf — a young animal

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