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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. lean — to bend
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. fall — to drop
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. net — for catching
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. stem — to come from
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. fall — the season
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. board — a committee
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. board — to get on
  19. lean — thin
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. net — in sport
  23. fall — to drop
  24. net — after costs

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