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: sharp · safe · branch · coach · fork · roll · wake · pitch

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  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. wake — a trail
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. branch — a division
  5. fork — in a road
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. roll — a cake
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. pitch — completely
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. sharp — clever
  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