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 116 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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. ball — a great time
  4. pop — soda
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. stock — shares
  9. bore — to tire
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. ball — a dance
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pop — to visit
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — for money
  18. bore — to drill
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. press — newspapers
  21. pop — music
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. stock — goods
  24. ball — a round shape

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