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: bay · branch · rock · row · rush · file · pitch · tube

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  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. file — a line of people
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. row — to paddle
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. tube — the underground
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. file — a tool
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. file — a document
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rock — a stone
  17. branch — a division
  18. tube — a container
  19. pitch — completely
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. row — a line
  23. branch — of a tree
  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