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: land · foot · file · press · toast · stock · fan · deal

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. file — a line of people
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. land — ground
  5. file — a tool
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stock — shares
  9. press — to push
  10. land — a country
  11. press — a publisher
  12. stock — goods
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. land — to come down
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. deal — to handle
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. toast — bread
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. file — a document
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. press — newspapers
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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