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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. spring — of water
  4. root — the cause
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. spell — magic
  7. spell — letters
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. mug — to rob
  10. spell — a short time
  11. mug — a cup
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. root — of a word
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. perch — the fish
  17. mug — a face
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. spring — the season
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. wax — to grow
  23. spring — a coil
  24. cabinet — ministers

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