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: wave · present · ball · mark · swing · root · prune · dip

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. present — the time now
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. dip — to sink
  5. root — of a word
  6. ball — a great time
  7. swing — in golf
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. prune — to trim
  10. root — of a plant
  11. present — a gift
  12. swing — music
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mark — a trace
  15. root — the cause
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. ball — a dance
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. mark — a grade
  20. prune — to trim
  21. swing — to play on
  22. present — there
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. prune — the fruit

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