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: firm · staff · branch · bulb · mug · sharp · row · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. firm — decided
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. mug — to rob
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. staff — employees
  8. row — to paddle
  9. row — a line
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bulb — for light
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. branch — a division
  18. firm — a company
  19. mug — a cup
  20. sharp — clever
  21. firm — steady
  22. mug — a face
  23. staff — employees
  24. branch — of a bank

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