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: capital · present · trunk · root · stand · rock · bass · lash

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. stand — to bear
  3. capital — a city
  4. root — the cause
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. rock — a stone
  7. present — there
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. present — a gift
  10. capital — money
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. rock — music
  13. root — of a word
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. root — of a plant
  22. bass — the fish
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. bass — low music

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