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: deal · branch · spring · mug · safe · cabinet · capital · net

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. mug — to rob
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. mug — a face
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. deal — to handle
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. net — after costs
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. spring — the season
  17. capital — a city
  18. spring — a coil
  19. spring — of water
  20. mug — a cup
  21. branch — a division
  22. capital — money
  23. net — in sport
  24. net — for catching

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