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 116 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: safe · current · cue · deal · bass · root · spring · season

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. current — of water
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. season — in sport
  6. root — of a word
  7. cue — for pool
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. cue — a hint
  10. deal — to handle
  11. bass — the fish
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. current — happening now
  14. spring — the season
  15. spring — of water
  16. cue — a signal
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. current — electric
  19. season — of the year
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. spring — a coil
  22. bass — low music
  23. root — of a plant
  24. root — the cause

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