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 120 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: arm · stock · stick · branch · wound · track · charge · stem

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The ________________ market has crashed.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stock — shares
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. wound — an injury
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. charge — in control
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. track — to keep track
  12. stem — to come from
  13. stock — goods
  14. wound — an injury
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. charge — electricity
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. branch — a division
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. charge — a price
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. track — a song

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