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: spring · hide · spell · stem · jam · safe · date · rock

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  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. date — on the calendar
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. spell — a short time
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. spell — letters
  7. spell — magic
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. rock — a stone
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. spring — a coil
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. stem — to come from
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. spring — the season
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. spring — of water
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. date — the fruit
  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