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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · spring · saw · branch · stem · pitcher · craft · mouse

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. saw — the tool
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. saw — the tool
  10. spring — the season
  11. spring — a coil
  12. spring — of water
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. craft — a skill
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. branch — a division
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. stem — to come from
  22. craft — boats
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. safe — a strongbox

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