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: pitch · file · branch · key · stick · wind · can · jam

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. file — a tool
  3. key — for a lock
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. can — a tin
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. file — a document
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitch — completely
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. key — the most important part
  14. wind — moving air
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. wind — to turn a key
  18. can — to be able to
  19. branch — a division
  20. key — in music
  21. wind — moving air
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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