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: branch · hand · safe · spell · mug · cap · degree · fine

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. hand — in cards
  3. hand — help
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. spell — magic
  6. degree — temperature
  7. cap — of ice
  8. mug — to rob
  9. spell — a short time
  10. fine — all right
  11. degree — an amount
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. mug — a face
  15. mug — a cup
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. fine — high quality
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. cap — a lid
  21. cap — a hat
  22. branch — a division
  23. spell — letters
  24. degree — from a university

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