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: jam · nail · can · pitcher · march · root · court · cabinet

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. court — of law
  3. can — to be able to
  4. court — of a king
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. root — of a plant
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. march — music
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. court — for sport
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. march — the month
  16. can — a tin
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. root — of a word
  23. march — the month
  24. can — a tin

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