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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. perch — the fish
  3. root — of a plant
  4. root — the cause
  5. saw — the tool
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. face — part of the head
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. net — after costs
  11. mate — a friend
  12. net — in sport
  13. mate — to breed
  14. face — to point toward
  15. root — of a word
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mate — a partner
  18. net — for catching
  19. cue — a signal
  20. rash — hasty
  21. cue — a hint
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. rash — a series
  24. face — to confront

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