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 ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. suit — clothes
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. squash — the sport
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mate — to breed
  10. spell — a short time
  11. root — the cause
  12. sharp — clever
  13. suit — in cards
  14. squash — to crush
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. ball — a dance
  17. root — of a word
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. ball — a great time
  20. mate — a partner
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — magic
  23. suit — to fit
  24. mate — a friend

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