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: sharp · bank · drill · branch · chip · lie · pop · mug

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bank — of a river
  3. pop — soda
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. pop — music
  6. bank — for money
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. branch — a division
  12. chip — for betting
  13. mug — a cup
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. drill — the tool
  16. lie — to recline
  17. mug — to rob
  18. chip — to eat
  19. drill — a practice
  20. bank — for money
  21. sharp — clever
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pop — to visit
  24. drill — army training

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