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: charge · prune · scale · drill · foot · stem · wake · roll

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — a measure
  4. scale — in music
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. roll — a list
  7. drill — army training
  8. charge — in control
  9. wake — a trail
  10. scale — size or range
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. drill — a practice
  14. prune — to trim
  15. roll — a cake
  16. charge — a price
  17. prune — to trim
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. drill — the tool
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. charge — electricity
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. scale — for weighing

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