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. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. vault — a safe
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. row — a line
  6. can — a tin
  7. press — to push
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. press — newspapers
  12. sharp — clever
  13. roll — a cake
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. saw — the tool
  18. row — to paddle
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. roll — a list
  21. saw — the tool
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. press — a publisher
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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