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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. bore — to drill
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bulb — for light
  8. content — happy
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. content — the amount
  12. bore — to tire
  13. season — of the year
  14. press — to push
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. face — to point toward
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. season — in sport
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. face — to confront
  23. bulb — for light
  24. face — part of the head

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