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: snap · mark · ground · rock · lash · root · press · clip

  1. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. clip — a video
  3. ground — the earth
  4. root — of a plant
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. rock — a stone
  8. clip — to cut
  9. press — to push
  10. ground — crushed
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. root — of a word
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — a publisher
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. root — the cause
  17. rock — music
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. ground — a position
  23. clip — for paper
  24. mark — a trace

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