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: coach · club · court · nail · ball · mouse · bay · press

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. press — to push
  3. press — newspapers
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. club — a group
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. court — of a king
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. court — of law
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. ball — a great time
  18. ball — a dance
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. club — for dancing
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. club — for golf
  24. court — for sport

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