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: leaves · wake · roll · saw · wave · rock · bore · branch

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. roll — a list
  4. saw — the tool
  5. branch — a division
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. bore — to drill
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. rock — a stone
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. rock — music
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bore — to tire
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. roll — a cake

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