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 120 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: mouse · branch · pop · board · present · can · firm · bear

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. can — to be able to
  3. firm — decided
  4. pop — music
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. firm — a company
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. board — a committee
  9. pop — soda
  10. can — a tin
  11. present — a gift
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. branch — a division
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. present — there
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. board — to get on
  18. can — a tin
  19. pop — to visit
  20. bear — the animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. present — the time now

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