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: field · patient · prune · temple · mark · plane · track · branch

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. plane — a tool
  3. track — a song
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. field — a subject
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. prune — to trim
  10. field — farmland
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. branch — a division
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. track — a path
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. track — to keep track
  22. prune — to trim
  23. mark — a grade
  24. field — for sport

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