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: pop · fan · shower · tube · bay · object · leaves · stem

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. pop — music
  9. stem — to come from
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. pop — soda
  12. object — a thing
  13. tube — a container
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. tube — the underground
  16. object — an aim
  17. pop — to visit
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. shower — rain
  20. shower — to wash
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. fan — a supporter

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