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: lean · degree · season · press · club · cap · can · rush

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. lean — to bend
  3. cap — of ice
  4. press — newspapers
  5. degree — an amount
  6. cap — a lid
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. lean — thin
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — in sport
  12. can — to be able to
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. press — to push
  15. press — a publisher
  16. degree — temperature
  17. club — for dancing
  18. degree — from a university
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. cap — a hat
  21. club — a group
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. club — for golf
  24. rush — hurry

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