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: pit · lash · bore · board · rest · saw · prune · stem

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. prune — to trim
  3. rest — what's left
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bore — to drill
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. stem — to come from
  10. rest — what's left
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bore — to tire
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. board — to get on
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pit — in a race
  17. rest — a break
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. prune — to trim
  20. saw — the tool
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. board — a committee
  24. bore — gave birth

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