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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. root — of a plant
  3. scale — size or range
  4. root — the cause
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wake — a trail
  9. scale — in music
  10. staff — employees
  11. plane — a tool
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. staff — employees
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. root — of a word
  17. rash — hasty
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rash — a series
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bowl — a football final

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