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: suit · mouse · pop · fork · branch · mine · temple · board

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. fork — in a road
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. board — a committee
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pop — soda
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. pop — music
  13. board — to get on
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. branch — a division
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. suit — clothes
  23. pop — to visit
  24. branch — of a tree

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