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 · stand · rock · fall · jam · scale · sharp · mouse

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. press — newspapers
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. fall — to drop
  5. press — to push
  6. stand — to bear
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. sharp — clever
  9. fall — the season
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. press — a publisher
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — a stone
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. rock — music
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. fall — to drop
  23. scale — size or range
  24. stand — for spectators

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