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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. mark — a grade
  4. saw — the tool
  5. press — newspapers
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. spell — a short time
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. track — a song
  11. spell — magic
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. press — a publisher
  14. spell — letters
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mark — a trace
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. press — to push
  22. track — to keep track
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. track — a path

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