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: kick · lash · perch · season · snap · can · branch · bank

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. perch — the fish
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. can — a tin
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. season — in sport
  7. bank — for money
  8. kick — in football
  9. season — of the year
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. snap — to click
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. can — to be able to
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. can — a tin
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. bank — of a river
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bank — for money

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