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: lie · mark · branch · cabinet · date · file · straw · fan

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. file — a document
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. file — a tool
  9. lie — to recline
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. file — a line of people
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. branch — a division
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. date — the fruit
  17. mark — a trace
  18. mark — a grade
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. fan — a supporter

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