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: perch · mug · press · toast · patient · march · current · jam

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. march — the month
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. mug — to rob
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. current — electric
  11. toast — bread
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. press — to push
  14. mug — a cup
  15. press — a publisher
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — of water
  20. perch — the fish
  21. mug — a face
  22. march — music
  23. march — the month
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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