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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. firm — a company
  4. board — to get on
  5. dip — to sink
  6. board — a committee
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rash — a series
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. stem — to come from
  14. rash — hasty
  15. firm — decided
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bound — certain
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bound — obliged
  20. roll — a list
  21. firm — steady
  22. bound — tied together
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. board — a flat piece

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