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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bank — for money
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. chip — to eat
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bore — to drill
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bore — to tire
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bank — for money
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. mate — a friend
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. mate — a partner
  22. chip — for betting
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. stem — to come from

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