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 · stock · hide · prune · lean · foot · stick · spring

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. spring — of water
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. spring — a coil
  5. foot — a measure
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. prune — to trim
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. stock — shares
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. lean — thin
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. branch — a division
  21. lean — to bend
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stock — goods
  24. spring — the season

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