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: pitcher · face · field · mouse · leaves · bank · root · bulb

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. bank — for money
  3. root — of a word
  4. face — to confront
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. root — of a plant
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bank — for money
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. field — farmland
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. bank — of a river
  20. face — part of the head
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. face — to point toward
  23. root — the cause
  24. field — a subject

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