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: pitcher · mark · temple · bore · court · stem · date · press

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. press — newspapers
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stem — to come from
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bore — to tire
  9. date — the fruit
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mark — a grade
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. press — to push
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. court — of law
  19. court — for sport
  20. bore — to drill
  21. court — of a king
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. stem — of a plant
  24. temple — side of the head

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