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: leaves · press · root · chip · rest · coach · bore · hand

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bore — to tire
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rest — what's left
  14. root — of a word
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. hand — help
  18. hand — in cards
  19. bore — to drill
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. press — a publisher
  22. rest — what's left
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rest — a break

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