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: plane · board · pitcher · leaves · patient · roll · root · arm

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. root — the cause
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. root — of a word
  9. root — of a plant
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. plane — a tool
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. board — to get on
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. roll — a cake
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. board — a committee
  22. roll — a list
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. roll — on a roll

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