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: suit · object · fan · arm · nail · lie · press · pitch

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. press — a publisher
  7. press — to push
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. press — newspapers
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pitch — completely
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. object — to protest
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. object — an aim
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — clothes
  22. object — a thing
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. lie — an untruth

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