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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  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. ball — a great time
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. root — of a plant
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bore — to drill
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. dip — to sink
  9. mate — to breed
  10. root — the cause
  11. ball — a dance
  12. root — of a word
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bore — to tire
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. mate — a partner
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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