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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. root — of a word
  3. scale — in music
  4. present — there
  5. roll — a cake
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. can — a tin
  8. fall — to drop
  9. root — of a plant
  10. can — a tin
  11. root — the cause
  12. present — the time now
  13. mark — a trace
  14. fall — to drop
  15. pit — a hole
  16. present — a gift
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fall — the season
  19. can — to be able to
  20. scale — size or range
  21. roll — a list
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. scale — for weighing

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