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: pass · cue · bass · branch · game · deal · leaves · net

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cue — for pool
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bass — the fish
  8. cue — a signal
  9. net — in sport
  10. pass — a permit
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. branch — a division
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. deal — to handle
  15. bass — low music
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. cue — a hint
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. net — after costs
  20. game — a match
  21. game — wild animals
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. net — for catching

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