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: rash · craft · trunk · ruler · ground · season · branch · saw

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. season — in sport
  3. ground — the earth
  4. branch — a division
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. rash — hasty
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. rash — a series
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. saw — the tool
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. saw — the tool
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ground — a position
  21. craft — a skill
  22. craft — boats
  23. ground — crushed
  24. trunk — of a car

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