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 · board · wax · bay · jam · bank · sharp · hand

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. sharp — clever
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — to grow
  8. board — to get on
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. hand — in cards
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. hand — help
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. bank — for money
  20. branch — a division
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. board — a committee

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