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: jam · bear · wound · bass · season · root · land · ruler

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. season — in sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. bear — the animal
  8. land — a country
  9. wound — an injury
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. season — of the year
  13. root — of a plant
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. bass — low music
  17. bear — the animal
  18. land — ground
  19. root — of a word
  20. bass — the fish
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. wound — an injury
  24. land — to come down

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