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: calf · lean · temple · prune · nail · mate · charge · root

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. root — the cause
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. root — of a plant
  6. mate — to breed
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mate — a partner
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. charge — a price
  11. mate — a friend
  12. charge — electricity
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lean — thin
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. prune — to trim
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. prune — to trim
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. charge — in control
  23. lean — to bend
  24. root — of a word

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