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 120 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: fine · track · branch · bulb · ball · game · cabinet · lie

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — high quality
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. ball — a dance
  8. track — a path
  9. ball — a great time
  10. branch — a division
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. lie — to recline
  13. game — a match
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. game — wild animals
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. track — to keep track
  23. track — a song
  24. fine — all right

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