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: cap · roll · bowl · chip · track · branch · fine · row

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. row — to paddle
  6. cap — a hat
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. track — to keep track
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. row — a line
  11. roll — a cake
  12. cap — of ice
  13. chip — for betting
  14. cap — a lid
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. roll — a list
  17. track — a path
  18. track — a song
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. fine — all right
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. fine — high quality
  24. roll — on a roll

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