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 · ground · fine · safe · can · stand · patient · foot

  1. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — calm and waiting
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. ground — a position
  4. foot — a measure
  5. stand — to bear
  6. can — a tin
  7. root — of a plant
  8. fine — high quality
  9. can — to be able to
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. root — the cause
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. fine — all right
  15. ground — crushed
  16. root — of a word
  17. ground — the earth
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. can — a tin
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. safe — out of danger

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