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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. ground — a position
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. stem — to come from
  7. current — happening now
  8. press — a publisher
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. current — electric
  11. rock — music
  12. sharp — clever
  13. press — newspapers
  14. ground — crushed
  15. current — of water
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. press — to push
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. ground — the earth
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rock — a stone
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. sharp — with an edge

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