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: roll · bore · lash · content · pitcher · key · stem · branch

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. key — the most important part
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. stem — to come from
  13. roll — a cake
  14. roll — a list
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. bore — to drill
  18. key — in music
  19. content — happy
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bore — to tire
  22. branch — a division
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. roll — on a roll

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