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 120 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. game — a match
  4. game — wild animals
  5. fork — in a road
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. dip — to sink
  8. stem — to come from
  9. rush — hurry
  10. can — to be able to
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. can — a tin
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. game — a kind of play

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