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: chip · stand · press · jam · branch · deal · coach · pop

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. press — to push
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. chip — for betting
  12. press — newspapers
  13. branch — a division
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. chip — to eat
  16. press — a publisher
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. pop — to visit
  21. deal — to handle
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. pop — soda
  24. chip — in a computer

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