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: net · bore · rest · branch · jam · bank · board · rock

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — a break
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bore — to drill
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bank — of a river
  7. net — after costs
  8. bank — for money
  9. rock — music
  10. board — to get on
  11. rest — what's left
  12. bank — for money
  13. branch — a division
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. net — for catching
  17. bore — to tire
  18. rock — a stone
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. board — a committee
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. net — in sport
  24. branch — of a bank

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