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 120 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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  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. ground — a position
  2. branch — a division
  3. root — of a word
  4. staff — a stick
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. key — in music
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. cap — a lid
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. root — of a plant
  11. ground — the earth
  12. staff — employees
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. key — for a lock
  15. lie — to recline
  16. staff — employees
  17. cap — of ice
  18. ground — crushed
  19. root — the cause
  20. cap — a hat
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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