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: leaves · calf · fall · temple · stem · spell · patient · branch

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. spell — a short time
  3. branch — a division
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. stem — to come from
  11. spell — letters
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. fall — the season
  17. spell — magic
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. fall — to drop
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. fall — to drop

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