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: lash · branch · staff · bass · leaves · mug · saw · march

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. march — the month
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. staff — a stick
  9. mug — a face
  10. branch — a division
  11. mug — to rob
  12. staff — employees
  13. march — music
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. mug — a cup
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. staff — employees
  20. march — the month
  21. saw — the tool
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bass — low music
  24. saw — the tool

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