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 120 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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. last — to go on
  3. season — of the year
  4. last — finally
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. mark — a grade
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. mark — a trace
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. press — to push
  13. press — newspapers
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. scale — size or range
  17. fine — all right
  18. season — in sport
  19. press — a publisher
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. last — final
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. snap — to click

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