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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. staff — a stick
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. lie — to recline
  9. swing — in golf
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. deal — to handle
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. staff — employees
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. foot — a measure
  18. stem — to come from
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. swing — music
  21. staff — employees
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. swing — to play on
  24. stem — of a plant

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