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. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. face — part of the head
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bound — certain
  5. mug — to rob
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mate — to breed
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. mug — a face
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. tube — the underground
  12. stem — to come from
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mate — a partner
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. chest — a box
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bound — obliged
  19. face — to confront
  20. chest — of your body
  21. tube — a container
  22. bound — tied together
  23. chest — of your body
  24. mate — a friend

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