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: pass · prune · pop · dip · jam · stem · fan · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. pop — music
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. pass — a permit
  8. stand — to bear
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. pop — to visit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. pop — soda
  16. prune — to trim
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. stem — to come from
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. dip — to sink
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. prune — the fruit

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