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: bulb · bay · current · season · kick · snap · ball · branch

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. season — in sport
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. ball — a great time
  7. current — happening now
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. kick — in football
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. current — of water
  15. current — electric
  16. branch — a division
  17. ball — a dance
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. season — of the year
  20. snap — to click
  21. bulb — for light
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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