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: temple · foot · trunk · sharp · jam · pit · press · nail

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. press — newspapers
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. press — to push
  8. foot — a measure
  9. pit — in a race
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. pit — a hole
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. sharp — clever
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. press — a publisher
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. sharp — exactly

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