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: root · file · cabinet · net · march · stand · dip · staff

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — music
  3. net — after costs
  4. staff — a stick
  5. root — of a word
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. staff — employees
  8. root — the cause
  9. net — in sport
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. file — a document
  13. stand — to bear
  14. staff — employees
  15. file — a tool
  16. file — a line of people
  17. dip — to sink
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. net — for catching
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. march — the month
  23. root — of a plant
  24. stand — for spectators

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