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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. ball — a great time
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. deal — to handle
  5. press — a publisher
  6. press — newspapers
  7. object — an aim
  8. track — a path
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. object — a thing
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. object — to protest
  15. track — to keep track
  16. sharp — clever
  17. press — to push
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pit — a hole
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. track — a song
  24. pit — in a race

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