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: object · leaves · stem · perch · rock · plane · face · march

  1. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. plane — a tool
  3. face — to confront
  4. stem — to come from
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. march — music
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. perch — the fish
  10. rock — a stone
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. object — a thing
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. march — the month
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. object — an aim
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. object — to protest
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. face — part of the head
  23. face — to point toward
  24. rock — music

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