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 116 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: ball · lie · patient · track · press · prune · fan · spell

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. prune — to trim
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. spell — magic
  5. press — newspapers
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. spell — a short time
  8. press — a publisher
  9. spell — letters
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. ball — a dance
  12. press — to push
  13. lie — to recline
  14. track — a song
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. track — a path
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. ball — a great time
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. track — to keep track
  23. prune — to trim
  24. fan — a supporter

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