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: net · can · rush · rest · track · pitcher · dip · root

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. root — of a word
  3. track — to keep track
  4. net — after costs
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. root — of a plant
  9. rest — a break
  10. rest — what's left
  11. dip — to sink
  12. root — the cause
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. can — to be able to
  15. track — a path
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. net — for catching
  20. rush — hurry
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. rest — what's left
  23. track — a song
  24. net — in sport

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