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: toast · rush · stem · press · bound · fan · bulb · fine

  1. Did you ________________ the button?
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. press — to push
  2. toast — bread
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. bound — tied together
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bulb — for light
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. fine — all right
  13. press — newspapers
  14. bound — obliged
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bound — certain
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. stem — to come from
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. fine — high quality

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