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: coach · spell · root · leaves · scale · fan · board · pop

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. scale — in music
  4. board — to get on
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. root — of a plant
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. root — the cause
  12. scale — size or range
  13. spell — letters
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. pop — music
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. pop — soda
  19. board — a committee
  20. spell — magic
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. root — of a word
  23. spell — a short time
  24. leaves — to go away

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