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 · jam · stand · spring · stem · face · current · season

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. current — of water
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. roll — a cake
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. current — happening now
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. stand — to bear
  12. spring — a coil
  13. face — to point toward
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. season — of the year
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stem — to come from
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. roll — a list
  20. face — part of the head
  21. spring — of water
  22. face — to confront
  23. season — in sport
  24. current — electric

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