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: branch · swing · can · bank · squash · cue · sharp · bore

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. sharp — clever
  3. swing — in golf
  4. bank — for money
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. can — to be able to
  8. squash — to crush
  9. bank — for money
  10. cue — for pool
  11. branch — a division
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. squash — the sport
  16. swing — to play on
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — to tire
  21. can — a tin
  22. bank — of a river
  23. cue — a signal
  24. can — a tin

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