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: net · racket · bank · branch · staff · cue · rash · calf

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. cue — a signal
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. staff — employees
  9. bank — for money
  10. staff — employees
  11. cue — for pool
  12. bank — of a river
  13. net — for catching
  14. net — in sport
  15. bank — for money
  16. staff — a stick
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cue — a hint
  19. rash — hasty
  20. rash — a series
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. net — after costs
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. calf — a young animal

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