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 120 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: bank · rush · root · snap · ruler · foot · plane · bulb

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bank — for money
  4. snap — to click
  5. bank — of a river
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bulb — for light
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — of a word
  11. plane — a tool
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bank — for money
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bulb — for light
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. root — the cause
  24. foot — a measure

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