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's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bound — tied together
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mug — a cup
  9. spell — a short time
  10. press — newspapers
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. press — to push
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. spell — letters
  15. bound — certain
  16. branch — a division
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. mug — a face
  19. press — a publisher
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pass — a permit
  22. hand — help
  23. mug — to rob
  24. spell — magic

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