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 120 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 · bark · rest · hide · bank · cue · band · fall

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. fall — the season
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. band — a ring
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bank — for money
  9. bark — to shout
  10. rock — music
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. rest — a break
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. cue — a hint
  15. bank — of a river
  16. band — a music group
  17. rest — what's left
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bank — for money
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. cue — a signal
  22. fall — to drop
  23. rest — what's left
  24. cue — for pool

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