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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. squash — the sport
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. squash — to crush
  13. root — of a word
  14. ground — crushed
  15. mate — to breed
  16. mate — a friend
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. root — of a plant
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. ground — a position
  22. root — the cause
  23. stand — to bear
  24. mate — a partner

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