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: track · branch · spring · root · straw · nail · prune · foot

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. track — to keep track
  3. spring — a coil
  4. branch — a division
  5. spring — the season
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. track — a song
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. root — the cause
  12. root — of a word
  13. spring — of water
  14. foot — a measure
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. track — a path
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. prune — to trim
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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