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: roll · bulb · mate · stem · fine · wake · leaves · march

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. roll — a cake
  3. march — music
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. roll — a list
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bulb — for light
  10. fine — high quality
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mate — to breed
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. march — the month
  18. mate — a partner
  19. march — the month
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. stem — to come from
  23. mate — a friend
  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