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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. ground — crushed
  3. ground — a position
  4. spell — a short time
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. spell — letters
  7. rock — a stone
  8. cap — a hat
  9. ground — the earth
  10. bass — low music
  11. press — newspapers
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rock — music
  15. cap — a lid
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. cap — of ice
  18. bass — the fish
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. press — a publisher
  22. press — to push
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. racket — a loud noise

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