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: can · kid · pass · last · roll · branch · lash · temple

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. branch — a division
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. roll — a cake
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. can — to be able to
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. last — final
  13. kid — to tease
  14. last — finally
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pass — a permit
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. last — to go on
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. kid — child
  24. roll — a list

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