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 116 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: bank · bound · coach · mate · rock · trunk · mine · branch

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. mate — a friend
  7. rock — music
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mine — for digging
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mate — a partner
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. bank — for money
  18. bound — certain
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. branch — a division
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bound — tied together
  24. mine — an explosive

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