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

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. press — a publisher
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. press — newspapers
  8. saw — the tool
  9. press — to push
  10. game — a match
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — to handle
  14. stem — to come from
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pass — a permit
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. game — wild animals
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. deal — an agreement

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