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: wake · patient · land · leaves · foot · can · rush · root

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. land — to come down
  3. land — a country
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. can — to be able to
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. root — of a word
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. can — a tin
  17. rush — hurry
  18. root — the cause
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. foot — a measure
  21. wake — a trail
  22. root — of a plant
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. land — ground

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