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: mate · root · deal · press · rash · bound · bark · ball

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. rash — a series
  3. bound — obliged
  4. root — the cause
  5. press — a publisher
  6. ball — a great time
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bark — to shout
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. bound — tied together
  12. mate — a friend
  13. press — newspapers
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. root — of a word
  16. bound — certain
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mate — a partner
  21. press — to push
  22. ball — a dance
  23. root — of a plant
  24. rash — hasty

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