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: nail · key · mouse · lie · suit · press · march · wind

  1. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. march — music
  3. lie — to recline
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. press — a publisher
  10. march — the month
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. press — to push
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. wind — moving air
  19. march — the month
  20. suit — to fit
  21. press — newspapers
  22. suit — clothes
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. key — for a lock

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