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: leaves · mouse · field · deal · key · bass · net · root

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bass — the fish
  3. root — of a plant
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. field — farmland
  6. net — for catching
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. key — for a lock
  11. net — after costs
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. field — for sport
  14. root — of a word
  15. key — in music
  16. root — the cause
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. net — in sport
  19. field — a subject
  20. bass — low music
  21. deal — to handle
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. key — the most important part
  24. deal — a big deal

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