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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. press — newspapers
  4. staff — employees
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. staff — a stick
  7. land — ground
  8. court — of a king
  9. cue — for pool
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. cue — a signal
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. press — a publisher
  14. land — a country
  15. stem — to come from
  16. court — of law
  17. press — to push
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. cue — a hint
  20. staff — employees
  21. court — for sport
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. toast — bread
  24. stem — of a plant

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