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: rock · net · roll · drill · vault · bulb · spell · root

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. bulb — for light
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. drill — army training
  5. bulb — for light
  6. spell — magic
  7. rock — music
  8. spell — letters
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. root — of a plant
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. net — for catching
  13. drill — a practice
  14. roll — a list
  15. rock — a stone
  16. drill — the tool
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. root — the cause
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. net — after costs
  21. vault — a safe
  22. roll — a cake
  23. net — in sport
  24. root — of a word

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