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: fall · band · branch · stand · bore · game · squash · suit

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. squash — the sport
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. suit — in cards
  6. fall — to drop
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. band — a music group
  9. band — a ring
  10. fall — the season
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. branch — a division
  14. bore — to drill
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bore — to tire
  19. suit — clothes
  20. stand — to bear
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a match
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. fall — to drop

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