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: row · ground · pound · plane · bulb · club · fine · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. ground — a position
  3. row — to paddle
  4. club — a group
  5. pound — a weight
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. club — for dancing
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. ground — the earth
  15. fine — high quality
  16. plane — a tool
  17. row — a line
  18. branch — a division
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. fine — all right
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. club — for golf
  24. ground — crushed

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