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 116 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: scale · rush · racket · board · pass · branch · can · rest

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. can — to be able to
  3. scale — in music
  4. board — to get on
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. scale — size or range
  11. board — a committee
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. rest — what's left
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. pass — a permit
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. can — a tin
  19. rest — a break
  20. branch — a division
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. rest — what's left
  23. can — a tin
  24. pass — to succeed

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