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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. bore — to tire
  7. hand — help
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. hand — in cards
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mark — a trace
  13. press — newspapers
  14. fall — to drop
  15. press — a publisher
  16. press — to push
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bulb — for light
  20. fall — the season
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. bore — to drill
  24. fall — to drop

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