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: mate · press · current · ball · prune · mug · ground · rest

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mug — a face
  3. ground — crushed
  4. prune — to trim
  5. rest — what's left
  6. current — of water
  7. mate — a friend
  8. mug — to rob
  9. ball — a great time
  10. press — a publisher
  11. ball — a dance
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. mug — a cup
  14. current — electric
  15. ground — a position
  16. current — happening now
  17. press — newspapers
  18. rest — a break
  19. mate — to breed
  20. mate — a partner
  21. press — to push
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ground — the earth
  24. prune — to trim

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