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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pass — a permit
  3. root — of a word
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. drill — a practice
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. drill — army training
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. root — the cause
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mate — a partner
  14. root — of a plant
  15. wound — an injury
  16. wound — an injury
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. drill — the tool
  20. tube — a container
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. tube — the underground
  24. mate — a friend

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