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 116 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: bowl · cue · branch · row · tear · cabinet · bay · leaves

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. branch — a division
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. cue — for pool
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. tear — from crying
  9. cue — a hint
  10. row — to paddle
  11. tear — to rip
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. tear — from crying
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. row — a line
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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