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: rock · safe · toast · branch · mate · coach · staff · wake

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. staff — a stick
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. mate — to breed
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. wake — a trail
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. rock — a stone
  14. toast — bread
  15. staff — employees
  16. branch — a division
  17. rock — music
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. staff — employees
  21. mate — a friend
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. coach — a trainer

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