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: bulb · suit · band · hand · branch · lie · trunk · firm

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. branch — a division
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. suit — clothes
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. firm — steady
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. band — a ring
  11. suit — to fit
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. suit — in cards
  14. firm — decided
  15. band — a music group
  16. hand — help
  17. lie — to recline
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. hand — in cards
  21. bulb — for light
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. firm — a company
  24. lie — an untruth

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