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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  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. root — of a word
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. rule — government
  5. current — happening now
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. staff — employees
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. staff — employees
  10. bank — for money
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — a series
  13. current — electric
  14. root — of a plant
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bank — of a river
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. current — of water
  22. rule — a law
  23. bank — for money
  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