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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. press — to push
  5. stem — to come from
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. charge — a price
  8. bound — tied together
  9. track — a path
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — size or range
  12. track — a song
  13. rash — a series
  14. charge — in control
  15. press — newspapers
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — certain
  20. press — a publisher
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. charge — electricity
  24. rash — hasty

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