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. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. chip — to eat
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. wound — an injury
  6. chip — for betting
  7. suit — clothes
  8. stock — goods
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. suit — to fit
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. branch — a division
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a dance
  18. suit — in cards
  19. ball — a great time
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. wound — an injury
  24. stock — shares

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