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: mark · root · rock · cabinet · track · ground · nail · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. track — a path
  3. rock — music
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mark — a trace
  8. ground — crushed
  9. track — a song
  10. track — to keep track
  11. ground — a position
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. root — of a word
  17. root — the cause
  18. rock — a stone
  19. root — of a plant
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. ground — the earth
  24. mark — a grade

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