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: season · rush · lie · nail · branch · saw · current · dip

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. lie — to recline
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. saw — the tool
  8. current — electric
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. season — in sport
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. saw — the tool
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. season — of the year
  19. dip — to sink
  20. rush — hurry
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. rush — a thrill

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