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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. press — newspapers
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. toast — bread
  5. net — after costs
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. rock — music
  8. spring — of water
  9. press — a publisher
  10. track — to keep track
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. spring — a coil
  13. track — a path
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. net — in sport
  17. press — to push
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. spring — the season
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. net — for catching
  24. wake — a trail

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