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. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. deal — to handle
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. drill — a practice
  10. root — of a plant
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. drill — the tool
  14. stand — to bear
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. root — the cause
  19. drill — army training
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. rush — hurry
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. cabinet — ministers

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