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: racket · suit · trunk · stem · cap · cue · temple · arm

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. cue — a hint
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. cue — for pool
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. cue — a signal
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cap — a lid
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. cap — of ice
  16. suit — to fit
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. cap — a hat
  19. suit — in cards
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. trunk — of a car
  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