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: sharp · branch · trunk · fine · bank · calf · rush · ruler

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bank — of a river
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. bank — for money
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. bank — for money
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. sharp — clever
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. branch — a division
  24. ruler — for measuring

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