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: temple · bank · roll · spring · press · bore · hand · current

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. spring — a coil
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. current — of water
  6. press — a publisher
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. press — to push
  10. press — newspapers
  11. spring — the season
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bank — for money
  14. current — happening now
  15. bank — for money
  16. roll — a list
  17. bore — to drill
  18. hand — help
  19. spring — of water
  20. current — electric
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. roll — a cake
  23. hand — in cards
  24. bank — of a river

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