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: ground · rush · lie · fall · sharp · root · rock · bulb

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — for light
  5. rush — hurry
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rock — a stone
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. root — the cause
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. root — of a plant
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rock — music
  15. fall — to drop
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ground — a position
  19. root — of a word
  20. sharp — clever
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fall — the season

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