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: season · ball · bass · band · bulb · rock · branch · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. band — a ring
  3. branch — a division
  4. ball — a great time
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. bulb — for light
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. season — in sport
  13. ball — a dance
  14. chip — for betting
  15. rock — music
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. band — a music group
  18. season — of the year
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. bass — low music
  21. rock — a stone
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bulb — for light

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