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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · cabinet · jam · net · swing · root · cell · hide

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. net — after costs
  4. cell — in biology
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. net — for catching
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. cell — a phone
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. root — of a plant
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. net — in sport
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. root — the cause
  19. swing — to play on
  20. root — of a word
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. swing — music
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. swing — in golf

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