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: present · rock · wake · bass · leaves · press · land · fan

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. land — a country
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. press — to push
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. press — newspapers
  9. rock — a stone
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the fish
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. present — the time now
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. land — to come down
  18. present — a gift
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. press — a publisher
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. rock — music
  23. present — there
  24. land — ground

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