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: present · lie · ruler · bulb · nail · jam · current · branch

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. present — there
  3. present — a gift
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. lie — to recline
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bulb — for light
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. branch — a division
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. current — of water
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. bulb — for light
  21. current — happening now
  22. present — the time now
  23. current — electric
  24. lie — an untruth

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