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: kid · stick · rock · bore · branch · last · cabinet · trunk

  1. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. kid — to tease
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. rock — a stone
  4. branch — a division
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bore — to drill
  11. last — finally
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. rock — music
  19. kid — child
  20. bore — to tire
  21. last — to go on
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. last — final

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