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: mark · stem · bulb · pop · prune · scale · perch · cue

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. cue — for pool
  4. scale — size or range
  5. stem — to come from
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. scale — in music
  9. mark — a trace
  10. pop — soda
  11. bulb — for light
  12. perch — the fish
  13. bulb — for light
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. prune — to trim
  16. mark — a grade
  17. cue — a hint
  18. cue — a signal
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pop — music
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. stem — a stem cell

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