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: key · mouse · toast · object · press · saw · safe · land

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. press — a publisher
  4. land — a country
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. key — for a lock
  7. saw — the tool
  8. object — to protest
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. land — ground
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. land — to come down
  14. key — the most important part
  15. object — a thing
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. toast — bread
  21. saw — the tool
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. object — an aim
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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