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: net · present · fan · root · rock · rash · pit · wave

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. present — the time now
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. root — the cause
  6. rock — music
  7. net — in sport
  8. present — there
  9. net — after costs
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. net — for catching
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. pit — in a race
  16. rash — a series
  17. root — of a plant
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. rock — a stone
  20. present — a gift
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. pit — a hole
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. rash — hasty

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