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 · leaves · coach · cell · can · chip · fan · press

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. can — a tin
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. chip — to eat
  9. cell — a phone
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. press — a publisher
  14. branch — a division
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. press — newspapers
  17. chip — for betting
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. can — to be able to
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. press — to push

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