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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pit · toast · key · press · trunk · swing · face · temple

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. swing — music
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. face — to point toward
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. press — newspapers
  11. swing — to play on
  12. face — to confront
  13. key — in music
  14. press — to push
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — for a lock
  17. toast — bread
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. face — part of the head
  22. press — a publisher
  23. swing — in golf
  24. pit — in a race

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