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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. firm — a company
  3. rash — hasty
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. charge — in control
  6. firm — decided
  7. charge — electricity
  8. root — of a plant
  9. rest — a break
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. charge — a price
  12. can — a tin
  13. root — of a word
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. tube — a container
  16. can — to be able to
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. tube — the underground
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. firm — steady
  21. can — a tin
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rash — a series
  24. root — the cause

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