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 120 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: prune · temple · land · firm · charge · coach · patient · track

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. land — to come down
  3. land — ground
  4. prune — to trim
  5. land — a country
  6. firm — decided
  7. prune — to trim
  8. charge — in control
  9. charge — a price
  10. track — to keep track
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. track — a path
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. firm — a company
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. firm — steady
  21. track — a song
  22. charge — electricity
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. patient — a sick person

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