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: can · rock · current · temple · stick · nail · stem · sharp

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. stem — to come from
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. current — electric
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. sharp — clever
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. can — a tin
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. rock — a stone
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — of water
  22. can — to be able to
  23. current — happening now
  24. temple — a place of worship

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