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: mine · root · leaves · rock · plane · scale · game · content

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. root — the cause
  5. plane — a tool
  6. game — a match
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. scale — size or range
  11. root — of a plant
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. game — wild animals
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. rock — a stone
  16. content — happy
  17. root — of a word
  18. mine — for digging
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. rock — music
  21. scale — in music
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. leaves — lets stay

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