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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. land — ground
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. stem — to come from
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bank — for money
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. bank — for money
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. land — a country
  17. pitch — completely
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bank — of a river
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. fork — in a road

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