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: arm · branch · stick · fine · wave · season · prune · foot

  1. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. foot — a measure
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. season — in sport
  8. prune — to trim
  9. branch — a division
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. season — of the year
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. arm — part of the body

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