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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. rock — a stone
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. stand — to bear
  9. prune — to trim
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. foot — a measure
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. rock — music
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. branch — a division
  17. board — a committee
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. board — to get on
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. stand — for spectators

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