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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. net — in sport
  3. current — electric
  4. key — in music
  5. current — of water
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. file — a tool
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. net — after costs
  12. file — a document
  13. wake — a trail
  14. root — of a plant
  15. current — happening now
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. root — the cause
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. net — for catching
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. file — a line of people
  22. key — for a lock
  23. root — of a word
  24. key — the most important part

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