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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fork — a garden tool
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. object — an aim
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. fork — in a road
  10. snap — to click
  11. roll — a cake
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. object — a thing
  14. toast — bread
  15. stem — to come from
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. roll — a list
  23. object — to protest
  24. foot — a measure

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