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: root · wind · calf · can · saw · wake · bay · key

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. root — the cause
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. can — a tin
  10. wind — moving air
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. root — of a word
  13. saw — the tool
  14. root — of a plant
  15. key — in music
  16. can — a tin
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. saw — the tool
  20. wake — a trail
  21. key — for a lock
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. wind — moving 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