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. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. press — newspapers
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. game — wild animals
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. row — a line
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. game — a match
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. plane — a tool
  19. bulb — for light
  20. row — to paddle
  21. bulb — for light
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. lie — to recline
  24. press — a publisher

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