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: spell · coach · mug · bank · nail · trunk · board · march

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — for money
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bank — of a river
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. board — to get on
  10. mug — a cup
  11. spell — magic
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mug — a face
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mug — to rob
  19. spell — a short time
  20. spell — letters
  21. march — music
  22. march — the month
  23. board — a committee
  24. march — the month

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