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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ruler · chip · degree · lie · stem · board

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. chip — for betting
  4. chip — to eat
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. degree — temperature
  7. lie — to recline
  8. stem — to come from
  9. degree — from a university
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. board — a committee
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. degree — an amount
  18. board — to get on

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