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 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.

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: lash · drill · bass · cue · rush · mate · chair · branch

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. branch — a division
  3. cue — a signal
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. drill — a practice
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. bass — low music
  9. drill — the tool
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. mate — to breed
  12. rush — hurry
  13. chair — a leader
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bass — the fish
  18. mate — a partner
  19. cue — a hint
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. mate — a friend
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. cue — for pool
  24. branch — of a bank

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