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: fork · pitcher · saw · track · bay · press · craft · staff

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. fork — in a road
  3. staff — employees
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. press — to push
  6. craft — boats
  7. press — newspapers
  8. saw — the tool
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. press — a publisher
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. track — a path
  16. staff — a stick
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. craft — a skill
  22. track — a song
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. staff — employees

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