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: craft · roll · fine · nail · hide · wake · file · stem

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. stem — to come from
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. file — a document
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. craft — boats
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. roll — a cake
  11. roll — a list
  12. fine — high quality
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. file — a tool
  20. wake — a trail
  21. fine — all right
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. craft — a skill

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