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 120 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 · key · root · can · file · field · pass · sharp

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. root — of a word
  4. sharp — clever
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. can — to be able to
  8. file — a tool
  9. field — a subject
  10. file — a document
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. key — in music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. field — for sport
  15. root — of a plant
  16. root — the cause
  17. field — farmland
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. file — a line of people
  20. can — a tin
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. can — a tin
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. key — for a lock

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