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: current · root · saw · field · can · cap · lie · bay

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. can — to be able to
  3. field — for sport
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — to recline
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. can — a tin
  8. root — of a plant
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. field — a subject
  12. root — of a word
  13. saw — the tool
  14. current — happening now
  15. root — the cause
  16. current — of water
  17. saw — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. field — farmland
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. cap — a lid
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. cap — a hat
  24. current — electric

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