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: mate · bound · stand · cue · spell · suit · march · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bound — certain
  3. spell — letters
  4. spell — a short time
  5. cue — a hint
  6. march — the month
  7. branch — a division
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mate — a friend
  10. cue — for pool
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. march — music
  13. spell — magic
  14. bound — tied together
  15. suit — clothes
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. suit — in cards
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mate — to breed
  22. mate — a partner
  23. suit — to fit
  24. march — the month

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