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 116 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: pass · degree · root · pitch · branch · stand · fall · fan

  1. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. branch — a division
  5. fall — to drop
  6. pass — a permit
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. degree — an amount
  11. root — of a plant
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. fall — the season
  14. degree — from a university
  15. pitch — completely
  16. stand — to bear
  17. root — of a word
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. root — the cause
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. fall — to drop

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