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: branch · saw · court · pitch · bulb · bore · lash · craft

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bulb — for light
  3. craft — a skill
  4. court — for sport
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. bore — to tire
  7. court — of law
  8. branch — a division
  9. craft — boats
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. court — of a king
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. pitch — completely
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. saw — the tool
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. saw — the tool
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. bulb — for light

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