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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — music
  3. track — a path
  4. bank — for money
  5. root — of a plant
  6. charge — in control
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. charge — a price
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. track — to keep track
  15. root — the cause
  16. bank — for money
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. track — a song
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. charge — electricity
  22. toast — bread
  23. root — of a word
  24. rock — a stone

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