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: deal · court · wake · stick · rush · stem · branch · present

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. rush — hurry
  5. branch — a division
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. stem — to come from
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. deal — to handle
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. present — there
  13. court — of law
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. present — the time now
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. court — for sport
  22. wake — a trail
  23. present — a gift
  24. court — of a king

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