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: key · charge · branch · scale · prune · perch · mug · rock

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. charge — in control
  3. key — in music
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. key — for a lock
  6. mug — a face
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. scale — in music
  9. perch — the fish
  10. mug — a cup
  11. prune — to trim
  12. charge — electricity
  13. key — the most important part
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. charge — a price
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. scale — size or range
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — a stone
  23. branch — a division
  24. prune — the fruit

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