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: spell · fine · fork · branch · mouse · calf · temple · leaves

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. spell — letters
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. spell — magic
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. spell — a short time
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. branch — a division
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. fork — in a road

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