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: ruler · stem · rush · patient · mug · bank · ground · net

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bank — of a river
  5. mug — a face
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. net — in sport
  10. ground — a position
  11. bank — for money
  12. mug — to rob
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. mug — a cup
  15. net — for catching
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bank — for money
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. ground — crushed
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. net — after costs
  24. stem — to come from

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