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: roll · temple · stock · rock · root · tube · lean · fan

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. lean — to bend
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. roll — a cake
  8. rock — music
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lean — thin
  13. tube — a container
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. rock — a stone
  16. stock — shares
  17. tube — the underground
  18. root — of a word
  19. stock — goods
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. root — the cause
  22. roll — a list
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. lean — to rest against

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