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: pitch · cabinet · branch · deal · mark · can · ruler · face

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. mark — a trace
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. branch — a division
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. deal — to handle
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. can — a tin
  13. face — to point toward
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. can — a tin
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. can — to be able to
  20. face — to confront
  21. pitch — completely
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. face — part of the head

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