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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. firm — a company
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. root — the cause
  5. firm — steady
  6. cue — a signal
  7. roll — a cake
  8. prune — to trim
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rush — hurry
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. cue — a hint
  13. prune — to trim
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. root — of a plant
  17. cue — for pool
  18. firm — decided
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. shower — to wash
  21. shower — rain
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. roll — a list
  24. root — of a word

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