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: firm · rash · root · nail · saw · wake · key · roll

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. firm — a company
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. root — of a word
  5. key — for a lock
  6. firm — steady
  7. key — the most important part
  8. roll — a list
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. rash — hasty
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. root — of a plant
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. root — the cause
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. roll — a cake
  19. key — in music
  20. wake — a trail
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. saw — the tool
  23. rash — a series
  24. saw — the tool

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