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: wound · chest · root · bark · rest · ruler · key · stand

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. bark — to shout
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. stand — to bear
  6. chest — of your body
  7. chest — of your body
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. wound — an injury
  10. rest — what's left
  11. root — of a word
  12. key — in music
  13. chest — a box
  14. wound — an injury
  15. key — for a lock
  16. root — the cause
  17. key — the most important part
  18. root — of a plant
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. rest — a break
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. stand — on your feet

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