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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. root — the cause
  3. net — in sport
  4. root — of a word
  5. mug — a face
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. chair — a leader
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. root — of a plant
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. mug — a cup
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. hand — in cards
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. hand — help
  24. mug — to rob

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