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 · bulb · nail · leaves · fine · sharp · temple · chair

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. bulb — for light
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. chair — a leader
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bulb — for light
  15. sharp — clever
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. leaves — to go away

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