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: branch · season · bay · suit · ball · wake · can · chair

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. can — to be able to
  4. chair — a professorship
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. season — of the year
  8. chair — a leader
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. season — in sport
  11. wake — a trail
  12. can — a tin
  13. suit — in cards
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. can — a tin
  16. suit — to fit
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. branch — a division
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. suit — clothes
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. ball — a great time

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