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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. David sat on the ________________.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  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. swing — in golf
  2. press — newspapers
  3. bulb — for light
  4. fine — high quality
  5. swing — to play on
  6. stock — goods
  7. swing — music
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. fine — all right
  10. rest — what's left
  11. press — to push
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. stock — shares
  15. press — a publisher
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rest — a break
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wax — to grow
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. stock — a soup base
  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