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: bore · stem · press · calf · pass · cabinet · wax · wound

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. wax — to grow
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. pass — a permit
  9. wound — an injury
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. press — to push
  12. bore — to tire
  13. stem — to come from
  14. bore — to drill
  15. press — newspapers
  16. wound — an injury
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. pass — to spend time

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