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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. track — a path
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. root — of a plant
  6. craft — a skill
  7. staff — employees
  8. mine — for digging
  9. track — to keep track
  10. root — of a word
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — a stick
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. craft — boats
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. sharp — clever
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. saw — the tool
  22. track — a song
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. saw — the tool

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