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 nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. root — of a word
  3. rash — hasty
  4. squash — the sport
  5. root — the cause
  6. can — a tin
  7. chest — a box
  8. toast — bread
  9. can — a tin
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. chest — of your body
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. chest — of your body
  16. rest — what's left
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. rest — what's left
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. rash — a series
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. rest — a break
  23. root — of a plant
  24. squash — to crush

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