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 116 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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — to bear
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. root — the cause
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. season — in sport
  15. bulb — for light
  16. season — of the year
  17. root — of a plant
  18. root — of a word
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. saw — the tool
  21. stem — to come from
  22. bulb — for light
  23. saw — the tool
  24. can — a tin

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