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 · rock · wake · wax · racket · fan · bass · safe

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. wake — a trail
  7. wax — to grow
  8. root — the cause
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. root — of a word
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rock — music
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bass — low music
  20. root — of a plant
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bass — the fish
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. fan — to cool the air

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