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 116 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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. current — happening now
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. bound — obliged
  14. net — in sport
  15. net — for catching
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. current — of water
  19. wax — to grow
  20. bound — tied together
  21. current — electric
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. net — after costs

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