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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. press — a publisher
  3. rush — hurry
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. kid — to tease
  6. press — to push
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bound — obliged
  9. kid — child
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. press — newspapers
  12. bound — tied together
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. bound — certain
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. stock — shares
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. plane — a tool
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stock — goods

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