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: pop · safe · cabinet · stem · row · firm · mouse · game

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. row — to paddle
  4. game — wild animals
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. firm — steady
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. firm — a company
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. game — a match
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pop — music
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pop — soda
  20. pop — to visit
  21. stem — to come from
  22. row — a line
  23. firm — decided
  24. stem — a stem cell

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