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: ground · bass · stick · prune · cabinet · season · safe · press

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. season — in sport
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bass — low music
  8. prune — to trim
  9. season — of the year
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. ground — the earth
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. press — to push
  16. ground — a position
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. prune — to trim
  19. ground — crushed
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. press — a publisher
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. bass — the fish
  24. safe — a strongbox

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