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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. wound — an injury
  4. press — to push
  5. can — a tin
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. present — a gift
  8. can — to be able to
  9. mate — a friend
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. sharp — clever
  12. can — a tin
  13. press — newspapers
  14. mate — a partner
  15. present — there
  16. wound — an injury
  17. mark — a grade
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. mate — to breed
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — help
  23. present — the time now
  24. press — a publisher

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