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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. rock — music
  4. press — a publisher
  5. rock — a stone
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. current — of water
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. press — to push
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. stem — to come from
  17. perch — the fish
  18. current — electric
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. current — happening now
  21. mark — a trace
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. press — newspapers
  24. mark — to pay attention

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