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: plane · chip · leaves · spell · trunk · bank · temple · track

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. bank — for money
  3. chip — for betting
  4. spell — magic
  5. bank — for money
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. track — a song
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. chip — to eat
  10. plane — a tool
  11. spell — letters
  12. spell — a short time
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. track — a path
  16. track — to keep track
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. bank — of a river

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