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: bore · saw · row · branch · suit · mark · court · hand

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. court — of a king
  4. suit — clothes
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. saw — the tool
  8. court — of law
  9. row — a line
  10. suit — to fit
  11. hand — in cards
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. suit — in cards
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bore — to tire
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. row — to paddle
  19. court — for sport
  20. bore — to drill
  21. hand — help
  22. mark — a trace
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. branch — a division

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