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: content · game · snap · bore · branch · jam · track · hide

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. game — a match
  3. game — wild animals
  4. track — a path
  5. bore — to drill
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. track — to keep track
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. content — the amount
  14. snap — to click
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. branch — a division
  18. bore — to tire
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. content — happy
  24. track — a song

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