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: arm · roll · branch · lean · bass · key · ball · bowl

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. lean — to bend
  3. ball — a great time
  4. roll — a cake
  5. key — the most important part
  6. branch — a division
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. bass — the fish
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. roll — a list
  11. lean — thin
  12. key — in music
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. ball — a dance
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bass — low music

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