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. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. wound — an injury
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rock — a stone
  7. game — a match
  8. game — wild animals
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. press — to push
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rush — hurry
  17. press — newspapers
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. cell — in biology
  21. cell — a phone
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. game — a kind of play

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