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: safe · nail · mark · can · branch · wind · file · rash

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. file — a tool
  6. branch — a division
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. mark — a trace
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. mark — a grade
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. rash — hasty
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. file — a line of people
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. file — a document
  20. can — a tin
  21. wind — moving air
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. wind — moving air
  24. rash — a series

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