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: snap · cue · bulb · stem · fine · plane · arm · can

  1. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cue — a hint
  6. fine — high quality
  7. cue — a signal
  8. stem — to come from
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. can — a tin
  11. snap — to click
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. plane — a tool
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cue — for pool
  17. can — a tin
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. bulb — for light
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. fine — all right

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