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: vault · branch · firm · dip · mate · pass · march · lash

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. march — the month
  3. vault — a safe
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. firm — decided
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. firm — a company
  8. branch — a division
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. mate — a partner
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. vault — in gymnastics
  14. march — the month
  15. mate — to breed
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. dip — to sink
  18. pass — a permit
  19. firm — steady
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. march — music
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. dip — to dunk

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