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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. mark — a trace
  3. chip — to eat
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. fall — to drop
  9. mark — a grade
  10. roll — a list
  11. chip — for betting
  12. toast — bread
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. fall — to drop
  15. fall — the season
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. can — to be able to
  19. root — of a word
  20. can — a tin
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. root — the cause
  24. toast — the most admired

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