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: nail · saw · cue · calf · patient · pitch · leaves · branch

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. cue — a signal
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. pitch — completely
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. cue — for pool
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. branch — a division
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. patient — a sick person

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