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: can · temple · cabinet · ball · squash · press · mine · staff

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. can — a tin
  4. press — to push
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. squash — to crush
  7. press — a publisher
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. can — to be able to
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. staff — employees
  14. ball — a dance
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. squash — the sport
  17. staff — employees
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. press — newspapers
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. ball — a great time
  22. staff — a stick
  23. can — a tin
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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