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 116 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: lie · kid · bank · ball · stand · track · branch · nail

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. branch — a division
  3. track — a path
  4. ball — a great time
  5. kid — to tease
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. track — a song
  8. bank — for money
  9. stand — to bear
  10. lie — to recline
  11. track — to keep track
  12. ball — a dance
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. bank — of a river
  21. kid — child
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. bank — for money

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