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 ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rock — music
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. firm — decided
  5. sharp — clever
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. land — a country
  9. land — to come down
  10. firm — steady
  11. can — a tin
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. can — to be able to
  14. toast — bread
  15. land — ground
  16. deal — to handle
  17. firm — a company
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. can — a tin
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. root — of a plant
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. rock — a stone
  24. root — the cause

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