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: cabinet · firm · bear · branch · land · bound · press · stand

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bound — certain
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bound — tied together
  6. land — to come down
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. branch — a division
  9. land — ground
  10. bound — obliged
  11. press — newspapers
  12. press — to push
  13. firm — decided
  14. land — a country
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. bear — the animal
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. firm — a company
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bear — the animal
  23. press — a publisher
  24. firm — steady

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