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: bass · date · squash · rock · bulb · land · root · can

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. rock — a stone
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. root — of a plant
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. root — the cause
  7. land — a country
  8. can — a tin
  9. rock — music
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. land — ground
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. can — to be able to
  14. date — the fruit
  15. can — a tin
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. squash — to crush
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bass — low music
  20. bulb — for light
  21. squash — the sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. root — of a word
  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