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: nail · face · last · craft · branch · mark · pit · chip

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. face — part of the head
  4. mark — a grade
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. face — to point toward
  7. last — finally
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. branch — a division
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. mark — a trace
  16. pit — a hole
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. chip — for betting
  19. pit — in a race
  20. last — final
  21. craft — a skill
  22. craft — boats
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. face — to confront

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