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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. press — to push
  5. press — newspapers
  6. object — an aim
  7. march — music
  8. wound — an injury
  9. wound — an injury
  10. cue — for pool
  11. bear — the animal
  12. press — a publisher
  13. bear — the animal
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. season — of the year
  16. bore — to drill
  17. season — in sport
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. march — the month
  20. cue — a hint
  21. bore — to tire
  22. object — a thing
  23. march — the month
  24. cue — a signal

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