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: fine · mine · root · press · stand · trunk · chair · temple

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. stand — to bear
  3. press — newspapers
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. chair — a leader
  6. root — of a word
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. mine — for digging
  9. press — to push
  10. fine — all right
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. root — the cause
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. root — of a plant
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. press — a publisher

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