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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. roll — a list
  3. root — the cause
  4. root — of a plant
  5. date — the fruit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. root — of a word
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. squash — to crush
  10. squash — the sport
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. roll — a cake
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. club — for dancing
  16. club — for golf
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. club — a group

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