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: stand · roll · band · object · mark · bay · content · branch

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. branch — a division
  4. content — the amount
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. band — a ring
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. object — to protest
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. object — an aim
  18. band — a music group
  19. object — a thing
  20. content — happy
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — a grade
  23. stand — to bear
  24. roll — a list

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