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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. press — newspapers
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. press — a publisher
  5. press — to push
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. track — to keep track
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. track — a song
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. rush — hurry
  17. track — a path
  18. mug — a cup
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitch — completely
  21. mug — to rob
  22. dip — to sink
  23. mug — a face
  24. plane — a tool

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