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: hide · tube · ground · saw · vault · racket · branch · mine

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. ground — a position
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. vault — a safe
  9. mine — for digging
  10. tube — a container
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. branch — a division
  13. tube — the underground
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. ground — crushed
  17. vault — in gymnastics
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. saw — the tool
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. tube — in a tire

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