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: rock · cue · branch · ruler · rush · calf · bank · spring

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a signal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. spring — a coil
  6. bank — for money
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rock — music
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. cue — a hint
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rock — a stone
  22. spring — the season
  23. branch — a division
  24. spring — of water

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