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: chip · file · branch · bulb · jam · bat · tube · mate

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. file — a line of people
  4. bulb — for light
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. mate — a friend
  8. branch — a division
  9. file — a document
  10. mate — to breed
  11. chip — to eat
  12. chip — for betting
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. file — a tool
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. tube — a container
  20. bulb — for light
  21. bat — the animal
  22. mate — a partner
  23. tube — the underground
  24. chip — in a computer

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