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 120 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: chest · wax · mark · club · root · bank · press · hand

  1. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. bank — of a river
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — a publisher
  5. press — to push
  6. bank — for money
  7. club — a group
  8. hand — help
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. root — of a plant
  12. bank — for money
  13. root — of a word
  14. club — for golf
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wax — to grow
  17. chest — a box
  18. hand — in cards
  19. club — for dancing
  20. mark — a trace
  21. chest — of your body
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. root — the cause
  24. mark — to pay attention

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