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: deal · safe · root · spell · stem · file · net · bulb

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. deal — to handle
  3. root — the cause
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. root — of a plant
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. file — a line of people
  9. file — a tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. stem — to come from
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. spell — magic
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. file — a document
  21. spell — letters
  22. net — in sport
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. root — of a word

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