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 116 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: fine · ball · calf · game · rash · stand · press · leaves

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rash — hasty
  3. ball — a dance
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. game — wild animals
  7. press — a publisher
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fine — all right
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. press — newspapers
  14. game — a match
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. press — to push
  20. ball — a great time
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. stand — to bear
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. stand — on your feet

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