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: jam · press · saw · key · net · deal · lie · track

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. track — to keep track
  3. press — to push
  4. lie — to recline
  5. net — for catching
  6. saw — the tool
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. saw — the tool
  9. track — a song
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. net — in sport
  13. press — a publisher
  14. deal — to handle
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. press — newspapers
  17. net — after costs
  18. track — a path
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. lie — an untruth

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