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: branch · pop · root · rock · nail · stock · deal · patient

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. root — of a word
  6. pop — soda
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. stock — goods
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. rock — a stone
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. stock — shares
  14. rock — music
  15. root — the cause
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. deal — to handle
  19. pop — to visit
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. branch — a division
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. pop — music
  24. root — of a plant

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