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: root · cap · pitcher · current · sharp · lean · bore · ball

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. current — of water
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. root — of a plant
  6. ball — a great time
  7. cap — a lid
  8. lean — thin
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. root — the cause
  11. cap — a hat
  12. bore — to drill
  13. current — electric
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — clever
  17. current — happening now
  18. bore — to tire
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. root — of a word
  22. lean — to bend
  23. cap — of ice
  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