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: press · dip · leaves · roll · content · object · season · ground

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. roll — a list
  4. object — to protest
  5. ground — a position
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. ground — the earth
  8. object — an aim
  9. object — a thing
  10. press — newspapers
  11. dip — to sink
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. roll — a cake
  17. press — to push
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. content — the amount
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. season — of the year
  22. press — a publisher
  23. content — happy
  24. ground — crushed

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