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: root · sharp · patient · can · tube · object · branch · rest

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. object — an aim
  4. root — of a plant
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. branch — a division
  7. rest — what's left
  8. can — a tin
  9. rest — what's left
  10. can — a tin
  11. root — of a word
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. object — a thing
  14. can — to be able to
  15. object — to protest
  16. sharp — clever
  17. tube — the underground
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. tube — a container
  21. root — the cause
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. rest — a break

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