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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. suit — in cards
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. suit — clothes
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. suit — to fit
  18. file — a line of people
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. stem — to come from
  22. file — a document
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. file — a tool

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