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: content · bulb · foot · key · current · can · root · mark

  1. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — happy
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bulb — for light
  4. foot — a measure
  5. current — happening now
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. content — the amount
  8. can — a tin
  9. key — in music
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. root — the cause
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. mark — a trace
  15. can — to be able to
  16. mark — a grade
  17. root — of a word
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — electric
  20. root — of a plant
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — for a lock
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. current — of water

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