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 room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. band — a ring
  5. root — the cause
  6. band — a music group
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. bulb — for light
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. shower — rain
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. root — of a plant
  22. shower — to wash
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. root — of a word

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