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: mark · track · branch · suit · hide · bulb · rash · deal

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mark — a grade
  6. bulb — for light
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. branch — a division
  9. track — a path
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. track — to keep track
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. suit — in cards
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. bulb — for light
  18. track — a song
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. rash — a series
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. deal — to handle

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