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 a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. lie — to recline
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. root — of a word
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. ball — a great time
  8. current — happening now
  9. bass — low music
  10. wax — to grow
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. face — part of the head
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bass — the fish
  16. current — of water
  17. current — electric
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. face — to point toward
  22. root — the cause
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. face — to confront

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