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 120 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: cap · foot · rock · bank · press · lie · pitcher · spell

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rock — a stone
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — to recline
  5. cap — of ice
  6. cap — a hat
  7. bank — for money
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. rock — music
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. bank — of a river
  13. foot — a measure
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. spell — letters
  17. press — newspapers
  18. spell — a short time
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. spell — magic
  21. press — to push
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cap — a lid
  24. press — a publisher

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