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: spell · hand · chip · root · press · safe · deal · stem

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. deal — to handle
  3. hand — help
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. stem — to come from
  6. press — newspapers
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. root — of a plant
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. spell — a short time
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. hand — in cards
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. spell — magic
  17. root — of a word
  18. chip — for betting
  19. spell — letters
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. chip — to eat
  22. root — the cause
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. press — a publisher

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