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 120 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: spell · press · ruler · bowl · temple · staff · rash · swing

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. swing — in golf
  3. swing — to play on
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. press — to push
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. staff — a stick
  9. spell — magic
  10. rash — a series
  11. spell — letters
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. staff — employees
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. spell — a short time
  18. staff — employees
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. swing — music
  21. press — a publisher
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. press — newspapers

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