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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. stand — to bear
  3. spell — magic
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. prune — to trim
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. press — to push
  12. press — a publisher
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. press — newspapers
  15. spell — letters
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. spell — a short time
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. stand — for spectators

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