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: pass · mouse · mark · root · clip · file · fan · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. root — of a plant
  4. file — a tool
  5. root — the cause
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. clip — for paper
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mark — a trace
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. file — a document
  16. file — a line of people
  17. clip — to cut
  18. mark — a grade
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. clip — a video
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. root — of a word
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mark — to pay attention

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