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: object · pit · cap · deal · branch · bank · ball · straw

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. object — an aim
  3. deal — to handle
  4. pit — in a race
  5. cap — a lid
  6. bank — of a river
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. object — a thing
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. bank — for money
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a dance
  17. object — to protest
  18. branch — a division
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. pit — a hole
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. cap — of ice
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. cap — a hat

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