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 120 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: root · fork · branch · board · drill · pitch · kid · stand

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. drill — a practice
  3. pitch — completely
  4. stand — to bear
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. branch — a division
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. kid — child
  13. board — a committee
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. board — to get on
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. root — the cause
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. root — of a word
  21. root — of a plant
  22. drill — the tool
  23. kid — to tease
  24. drill — army training

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