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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. root — of a word
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. mark — a trace
  7. plane — a tool
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. root — the cause
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. root — of a plant
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. rock — a stone
  19. mine — for digging
  20. rock — music
  21. dip — to sink
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. dip — a sauce

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