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: march · branch · bank · board · ball · staff · bulb · perch

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. perch — the fish
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bank — for money
  5. staff — a stick
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. march — the month
  8. staff — employees
  9. branch — a division
  10. board — to get on
  11. march — music
  12. staff — employees
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bank — of a river
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. ball — a dance
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. march — the month
  19. board — a committee
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bank — for money
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. bulb — for light

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