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: stem · mark · spell · wave · calf · bass · chest · roll

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. roll — a list
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. stem — to come from
  8. mark — a grade
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. spell — a short time
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. chest — of your body
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. mark — a trace
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bass — the fish
  20. chest — of your body
  21. bass — low music
  22. chest — a box
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. spell — letters

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