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: degree · root · fall · can · nail · stand · bulb · court

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  19. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. court — of law
  6. degree — an amount
  7. can — a tin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. stand — to bear
  10. root — of a plant
  11. root — the cause
  12. court — of a king
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. root — of a word
  15. fall — the season
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. degree — temperature
  19. fall — to drop
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. court — for sport
  23. fall — to drop
  24. degree — from a university

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