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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. root — of a plant
  3. firm — steady
  4. pitch — completely
  5. sharp — clever
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. root — of a word
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. firm — decided
  14. root — the cause
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. firm — a company
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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