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 120 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: root · fine · wake · suit · trunk · mouse · cap · hand

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. wake — a trail
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. hand — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. root — of a plant
  7. cap — a hat
  8. suit — clothes
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. fine — high quality
  14. cap — a lid
  15. root — the cause
  16. suit — in cards
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. fine — all right
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. hand — help
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. root — of a word

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