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 · march · charge · capital · bore · spring · leaves

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. Beijing is the ________________ of China.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. charge — a price
  3. current — happening now
  4. root — of a plant
  5. spring — the season
  6. capital — money
  7. charge — in control
  8. march — the month
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. march — the month
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. spring — of water
  14. root — the cause
  15. current — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. charge — electricity
  19. bore — to tire
  20. root — of a word
  21. bore — to drill
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. spring — a coil
  24. capital — a city

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