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: spell · bound · rash · pound · root · bulb · rest · prune

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. root — the cause
  3. spell — a short time
  4. rash — hasty
  5. root — of a plant
  6. spell — magic
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rest — what's left
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. bound — tied together
  13. prune — to trim
  14. rash — a series
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. root — of a word
  19. rest — a break
  20. spell — letters
  21. rest — what's left
  22. bound — certain
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. pound — a weight

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