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: stand · temple · bound · swing · jam · pop · rush · press

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. swing — to play on
  3. bound — tied together
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. swing — music
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. press — to push
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. stand — to bear
  12. pop — to visit
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bound — obliged
  15. rush — hurry
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. swing — in golf
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. press — a publisher
  21. pop — soda
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. press — newspapers
  24. bound — certain

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