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 116 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.
Multiple-Meaning Words
Name: ____________________Date: __________
Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.
Word bank: mark Β· branch Β· fall Β· club Β· current Β· content
- I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
- He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
- Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
- Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
- She got the top ________________ in the exam.
- Let us try to swim against the ________________.
- ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
- My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
- In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
- Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
- Check the label for the sugar ________________.
- My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
- He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
- The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
- Biology is a ________________ of science.
- Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
- Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
- TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com
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