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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. pop — to visit
  3. press — a publisher
  4. bass — low music
  5. key — in music
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bass — the fish
  8. key — for a lock
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pop — soda
  11. cue — a signal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. ground — the earth
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. cue — for pool
  19. press — newspapers
  20. ground — a position
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. press — to push
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. pop — music

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