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. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. firm — decided
  3. firm — a company
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bass — low music
  9. firm — steady
  10. pop — music
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bass — the fish
  13. scale — in music
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pop — to visit
  21. wound — an injury
  22. stem — to come from
  23. pop — soda
  24. pitcher — a jug

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