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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. date — the fruit
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. roll — a list
  9. press — to push
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pit — in a race
  14. pitch — completely
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. press — newspapers
  19. pit — a hole
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. toast — bread
  23. foot — a measure
  24. roll — a cake

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