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: ball · object · kick · saw · dip · branch · toast · file

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. object — an aim
  7. toast — bread
  8. ball — a dance
  9. file — a document
  10. ball — a great time
  11. object — a thing
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. saw — the tool
  15. file — a line of people
  16. object — to protest
  17. file — a tool
  18. branch — a division
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. saw — the tool
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. kick — in football

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