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: press · pass · sharp · branch · stick · face · safe · mark

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. mark — a trace
  4. press — a publisher
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. face — to point toward
  7. face — part of the head
  8. sharp — clever
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. face — to confront
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. branch — a division
  17. mark — a grade
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. pass — a permit
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. press — to push
  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