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: arm · bank · pass · patient · can · prune · face · stem

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. can — a tin
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. prune — to trim
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. can — a tin
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bank — for money
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. pass — a permit
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. face — to point toward
  17. prune — to trim
  18. bank — of a river
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. can — to be able to
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. face — to confront
  24. bank — for money

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