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 120 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: pass · rock · branch · nail · craft · degree · season · plane

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. degree — temperature
  5. season — of the year
  6. degree — from a university
  7. rock — music
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. craft — a skill
  10. pass — a permit
  11. craft — boats
  12. plane — a tool
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. season — in sport
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. rock — a stone
  22. branch — a division
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. degree — an amount

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