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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. charge — in control
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. field — a subject
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. charge — a price
  7. suit — to fit
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. field — for sport
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. suit — in cards
  13. march — music
  14. root — of a plant
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. march — the month
  19. root — the cause
  20. charge — electricity
  21. suit — clothes
  22. field — farmland
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. march — the month

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