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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. saw — the tool
  4. root — of a word
  5. object — an aim
  6. object — a thing
  7. saw — the tool
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. staff — a stick
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. root — of a plant
  12. face — to confront
  13. face — to point toward
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. face — part of the head
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. object — to protest
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. staff — employees
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. root — the cause
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. staff — employees

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