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: face · ruler · toast · press · rash · pitcher · pass · cell

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. rash — a series
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. press — to push
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. toast — bread
  10. cell — a phone
  11. press — newspapers
  12. face — to confront
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pass — a permit
  16. face — to point toward
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. press — a publisher
  21. cell — in biology
  22. rash — hasty
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. face — part of the head

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