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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. scale — in music
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. scale — size or range
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. root — of a plant
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. root — of a word
  14. roll — a cake
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. kick — in football
  17. root — the cause
  18. foot — a measure
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. roll — a list
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. kick — with a leg

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