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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bound — tied together
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. suit — in cards
  8. branch — a division
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bound — obliged
  12. season — of the year
  13. season — in sport
  14. bound — certain
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. press — newspapers
  19. press — to push
  20. root — of a word
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. rock — music
  23. rock — a stone
  24. branch — of a tree

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