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: cabinet · branch · wake · kick · court · coach · spell · board

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. spell — a short time
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. kick — in football
  12. wake — a trail
  13. court — of law
  14. branch — a division
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. spell — letters
  17. board — to get on
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. board — a committee
  21. court — for sport
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. spell — magic

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