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: safe · bear · capital · can · fan · spell · press · branch

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. spell — a short time
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. can — a tin
  6. branch — a division
  7. bear — the animal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. press — to push
  12. capital — money
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. spell — letters
  15. can — a tin
  16. press — newspapers
  17. spell — magic
  18. capital — a city
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. can — to be able to
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. press — a publisher

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