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: snap · rush · press · nail · bear · wound · staff · track

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rush — hurry
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. staff — employees
  5. press — a publisher
  6. track — a path
  7. track — a song
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bear — the animal
  10. staff — employees
  11. press — to push
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. staff — a stick
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. bear — the animal
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wound — an injury
  21. wound — an injury
  22. press — newspapers
  23. snap — to click
  24. bear — to put up with

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