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: leaves · root · current · key · march · pop · pass · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. march — the month
  4. march — the month
  5. pop — soda
  6. root — the cause
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. current — electric
  9. current — happening now
  10. key — in music
  11. key — for a lock
  12. pop — music
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. root — of a plant
  16. root — of a word
  17. march — music
  18. pop — to visit
  19. key — the most important part
  20. rest — what's left
  21. current — of water
  22. rest — a break
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to succeed

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