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: branch · roll · nail · drill · arm · safe · row · bay

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. drill — the tool
  7. branch — a division
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. row — to paddle
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. drill — army training
  16. roll — a list
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. row — a line
  19. roll — a cake
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. drill — a practice
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. safe — a strongbox

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