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 120 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: pitcher · wound · bowl · bore · press · calf · bear · branch

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bore — to drill
  4. press — newspapers
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bore — to tire
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. press — to push
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. wound — an injury
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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