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: pass · perch · cabinet · season · pop · wave · leaves · root

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. perch — the fish
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. pop — soda
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pop — to visit
  13. root — of a word
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — in sport
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pop — music
  18. root — the cause
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. season — of the year
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. root — of a plant

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