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: bulb · safe · current · rest · jam · temple · root · squash

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rest — what's left
  5. squash — to crush
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. current — of water
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. bulb — for light
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. root — of a plant
  14. rest — a break
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rest — what's left
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. current — electric
  21. squash — the sport
  22. current — happening now
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. root — the cause

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