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: charge · march · racket · nail · shower · safe · mug · branch

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. march — music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. charge — electricity
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. march — the month
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. mug — a cup
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. shower — to wash
  16. mug — to rob
  17. march — the month
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. shower — rain
  21. charge — a price
  22. branch — a division
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. mug — a face

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