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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. rock — a stone
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. game — a match
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. game — wild animals
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. stem — to come from
  21. bark — a dog's sound
  22. bark — to shout
  23. toast — bread
  24. toast — the most admired

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