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 116 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: leaves · straw · key · bound · mouse · wound · press · bank

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. key — in music
  4. press — newspapers
  5. bank — for money
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bank — for money
  8. bound — tied together
  9. wound — an injury
  10. bound — certain
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. press — to push
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bank — of a river
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — the most important part
  19. press — a publisher
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. wound — an injury
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. straw — dry grass

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