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 116 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. pitch — completely
  4. ball — a great time
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. fall — the season
  11. ball — a dance
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. fall — to drop
  14. press — newspapers
  15. can — a tin
  16. press — a publisher
  17. rest — a break
  18. can — a tin
  19. fall — to drop
  20. pit — in a race
  21. key — the most important part
  22. press — to push
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rest — what's left

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