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: can · rock · cold · root · bear · plane · toast · safe

  1. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The water is too ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.

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

Answer key

  1. cold — the Cold War
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. plane — a tool
  4. root — the cause
  5. bear — the animal
  6. root — of a word
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. cold — not warm
  9. can — a tin
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bear — the animal
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — music
  16. can — to be able to
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. toast — bread
  23. root — of a plant
  24. cold — an illness

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