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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. field — a subject
  4. date — the fruit
  5. root — of a word
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. ball — a dance
  8. root — the cause
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. field — for sport
  11. scale — size or range
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. field — farmland
  15. ball — a great time
  16. scale — in music
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lean — thin
  19. root — of a plant
  20. deal — to handle
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. lean — to bend
  24. deal — an agreement

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