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: branch · court · can · pop · rest · file · pit · roll

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. can — to be able to
  5. file — a tool
  6. rest — what's left
  7. can — a tin
  8. branch — a division
  9. pit — a hole
  10. court — for sport
  11. court — of a king
  12. roll — a list
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pit — in a race
  16. roll — a cake
  17. rest — a break
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. court — of law
  20. file — a document
  21. pop — soda
  22. can — a tin
  23. pop — music
  24. rest — what's left

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