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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. press — a publisher
  3. rest — a break
  4. land — a country
  5. bulb — for light
  6. current — happening now
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — of water
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. can — a tin
  11. band — a ring
  12. land — to come down
  13. press — newspapers
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. band — a music group
  17. land — ground
  18. current — electric
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. press — to push
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. rest — what's left

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