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 120 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: ruler · stock · wound · spell · plane · branch · track · bear

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. branch — a division
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. track — a path
  8. track — a song
  9. stock — shares
  10. wound — an injury
  11. track — to keep track
  12. spell — a short time
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. plane — a tool
  16. spell — letters
  17. wound — an injury
  18. spell — magic
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stock — goods
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. plane — in geometry

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