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: bound · bark · sharp · wound · fan · stem · temple · hide

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. bound — tied together
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. wound — an injury
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. bound — certain
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. bark — to shout
  13. sharp — clever
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. wound — an injury
  21. stem — to come from
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bound — obliged

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