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 116 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: cap · bear · cell · bowl · safe · branch · stock · rock

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. cap — of ice
  4. rock — music
  5. cap — a lid
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. cap — a hat
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. rock — a stone
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. stock — goods
  20. stock — shares
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. branch — a division
  23. cell — a phone
  24. branch — of a tree

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