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: roll · trunk · hand · branch · firm · pop · deal · craft

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. roll — a cake
  5. firm — a company
  6. firm — steady
  7. hand — in cards
  8. craft — boats
  9. deal — to handle
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. craft — a skill
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. pop — music
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pop — soda
  20. branch — a division
  21. hand — help
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. firm — decided

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