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 120 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: racket · stick · pass · sharp · cell · last · bass · stem

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. last — to go on
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. stem — to come from
  9. last — finally
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bass — low music
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. pass — a permit
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. cell — a phone
  19. cell — in biology
  20. bass — the fish
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. sharp — clever
  23. last — final
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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