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: bank · pitcher · saw · rest · branch · key · board · foot

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. foot — a measure
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. bank — for money
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rest — a break
  7. key — in music
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. saw — the tool
  12. board — a committee
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. branch — a division
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. rest — what's left
  22. key — the most important part
  23. board — to get on
  24. key — for a lock

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