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: can · spell · sharp · charge · deal · chip · lash · root

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. spell — letters
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. can — a tin
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. charge — a price
  7. can — to be able to
  8. root — of a plant
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — in control
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. charge — electricity
  14. root — of a word
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spell — magic
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. deal — to handle
  19. chip — for betting
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. root — the cause
  23. chip — to eat
  24. sharp — exactly

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