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: bowl · capital · safe · charge · branch · stick · key · scale

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. scale — in music
  5. key — in music
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. branch — a division
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — a price
  11. capital — a city
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. capital — money
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. key — for a lock
  17. scale — size or range
  18. charge — in control
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. capital — a big letter

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