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: saw · press · face · jam · leaves · dip · pound · spring

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. saw — the tool
  3. pound — a weight
  4. spring — a coil
  5. face — to confront
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. press — to push
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. face — part of the head
  12. press — newspapers
  13. saw — the tool
  14. press — a publisher
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. spring — of water
  18. spring — the season
  19. dip — to sink
  20. face — to point toward
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. dip — a sauce

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