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: chest · lean · saw · key · root · cap · spring · bore

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. root — of a word
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. cap — a hat
  5. key — in music
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. chest — of your body
  8. spring — a coil
  9. lean — thin
  10. root — the cause
  11. chest — a box
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bore — to drill
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. cap — of ice
  16. spring — the season
  17. lean — to bend
  18. key — for a lock
  19. chest — of your body
  20. key — the most important part
  21. cap — a lid
  22. spring — of water
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bore — to tire

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