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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. press — to push
  7. spell — magic
  8. press — newspapers
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. roll — a cake
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. press — a publisher
  14. season — in sport
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. spell — a short time
  17. land — to come down
  18. roll — a list
  19. land — ground
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. season — of the year
  22. spell — letters
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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