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 116 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 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. can — to be able to
  3. deal — to handle
  4. bank — of a river
  5. hand — help
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. fall — to drop
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — for money
  14. root — the cause
  15. fall — to drop
  16. root — of a plant
  17. rush — hurry
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. fall — the season
  20. bank — for money
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. hand — in cards
  23. can — a tin
  24. hand — part of the body

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