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: fine · present · cap · season · charge · branch · nail · snap

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. cap — a hat
  3. present — there
  4. fine — high quality
  5. present — the time now
  6. charge — in control
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. present — a gift
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. charge — electricity
  12. branch — a division
  13. cap — of ice
  14. fine — all right
  15. season — of the year
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. cap — a lid
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. snap — to click
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. charge — a price
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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