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 · root · clip · pass · bulb · season · can · tear

  1. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. can — a tin
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. clip — a video
  7. root — the cause
  8. bulb — for light
  9. root — of a word
  10. can — a tin
  11. branch — a division
  12. clip — for paper
  13. pass — a permit
  14. season — in sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. tear — from crying
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. clip — to cut
  19. root — of a plant
  20. season — of the year
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. bulb — for light
  23. tear — to rip
  24. can — to be able to

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